tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19654733840307127012024-03-14T12:02:38.030-04:00CHAMBERS OF ROCKA blog dedicated to coverage of rock news, reviews of CD's/DVD's, live gigs and interviews with musicians who have made rock music great!
Coverage of hard rock, classic rock, AOR and popular melodic rock music across the genre.
This blog is the creation of Alun Williams, a Brit now living in Michigan whose previous credits include writing for the following sites:
www.classicrock.about.com
www.classicrockrevisited.com
and www.rocknrolluniverse.com (Now gone)
I hope you enjoy your visit here!cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.comBlogger898125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-64708871407568655592019-12-21T12:43:00.003-05:002019-12-21T12:45:24.696-05:00Pallas – ‘XXV’ album review - Reposted <div style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: medium;"><strong><u>Pallas – ‘XXV’ album review</u></strong></span></div>
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<strong><u><span style="color: lime;">Released on : Music Theories Recordings (Through Mascot).</span></u></strong></div>
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<strong><u><span style="color: lime;">Release date: Available now.</span></u></strong></div>
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So, to many reading here, this may be a surprise to you seeing me covering a review of an album by a Prog rock band!</div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Pallas</span></em></strong> is actually a band whose first album, <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'The Sentinel'</span></em></strong> that was released in '84, appealed to me in a big way. The band came out amidst a few other UK bands of significant note at the time, such <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Pendragon, Twelfth Night, I.Q.</span></em></strong> and yes - No, not <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Yes</span></em></strong>! -<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"> Marillion</span></em></strong>.</div>
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<strong><u>Editor's Note:</u></strong> <em>Prog rock fans, yes, I know there were others, but these five acts, I remember seeing them all back at the time!</em></div>
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I don't know what it was that grabbed me, but it was different and I thought that was an excellent release.</div>
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When two years later they released <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'The Wedge,'</span></em></strong> now to the contrary, I don't know what it was but the appeal for me was just ..., not the same.</div>
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For whatever reason, thereafter, the band dropped off my 'interest' radar and now look, here we are it's 2011 and the band is about the release it's sixth album!</div>
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Yes, surprising to me too that after twenty five years have passed, there has not been more output from the band ... Let's see, only three albums in twenty five years after two were released with two years of each other ... There's progression for you! Cough, cough!</div>
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No seriously, shame on me as not so long after <em><strong>'The Wedge'</strong></em> they split or went on hiatus until 1999 and since then it's been a sparse forward move from the band or it's remaining original members.</div>
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So, having the title <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'XXV' </span></em></strong>has more meaning - certainly - to me now, without doubt but what does it bring and why should I choose to now review a <strong><em>Pallas </em></strong>album? What drove it, right?</div>
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Well, talk of it being the sequel to <strong><em>'The Sentinel'</em></strong> certainly had me curious as well as the fact that this release came through part of the <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">Mascot Records</span></em></strong> group, the label that signs many of the musician's musician type act, was very encouraging.</div>
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Original members here are bassist / vocalist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Graeme Murray</span></em></strong>, keyboard genius <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Ronnie Brown</span></em></strong> and guitarist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Niall Mathewson</span></em></strong>, augmented by drummer <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Colin Fraser</span></em></strong> and newest member <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Paul Mackie</span></em></strong> on vocals.</div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Falling Down’</span></em></strong> opens the album and it starts with a radio broadcast, some strong keyboard notes and then ‘Go!’ The band joins in and in comes a huge sound, very reminiscent of hearing <strong><em>‘The Sentinel’</em></strong> for the first time, massive sound!</div>
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It’s funny that since the first album was released, I’ve come to listen to a lot of other prog kind of stuff and another band that I find very similar in styles to <strong><em>Pallas</em></strong> is Canadians <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Saga.</span></em></strong> Why do I mention <strong><em>Saga?</em></strong></div>
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Well, I know a lot of my readers are US / Canadian based, so in trying to give some folks over here a hint into <strong><em>Pallas’ </em></strong>sound, I felt <strong><em>Saga</em></strong> is possibly as close a reference that people could relate to. I would also add without a doubt though, the big UK type prog style is present here overall in a big way.</div>
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I am also reminded here in places of the likes of <strong><em>Yes, <span style="color: lime;">Steve Hackett</span></em></strong> and even <strong><em>Marillion</em></strong> too.</div>
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<strong><em>‘Falling Down’</em></strong> clocking in at around seven and a half minutes is its own epic! The song blends intricate detail, great melodies, strong choruses too, but never loses sight of it prog origins. Clever, twisting and brilliant all at once!</div>
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With <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Crash and Burn’</span></em></strong> next, this one starts with some radio communication and then gets into some seriously heavy prog sounds, signature time changes, push power chords, between keyboards and guitars and loads of flashy solo work too!</div>
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This one is seriously busy!</div>
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An atmospheric swirling keyboard intro and haunting vocal is the basis to <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Somewhere in the Deep’</span></em></strong> that basically just works around ‘just’ that.</div>
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Now the dark <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Monster’</span></em></strong> next, is brilliant and I love it! Starting with someone trying to tune in a radio station and again some atmospheric keyboards building up and then the band kicks in with a steady yet held back groove and yet it’s edgy and yes, dark!</div>
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It is kind of moody, it really is, but there’s a really nice tasteful guitar solo from <strong><em>Niall Mathewson.</em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘The Alien Messiah’</span></em></strong> is a multi-layered piece, in true prog epic style and the track as the rest of the album, focuses around the concept that drives the album. It’s quite heavy stuff initially where at times it’s almost <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">E.L.P.</span></em></strong> like and some of the guitar work is melodic yet really reaching … Then it gets back into one of the albums sporadic spoken sections, backed by accented stabs from the band before getting back into some seriously heavy and dark moments musically again.</div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘XXV Part 1 (Twenty Five Good Honest Men)’</span></em></strong> is next with the keys leading in haunting style once more, the spoken word again, before the band and lead vocalist <strong><em>Paul Mackie</em></strong> joins in with the chorus and then it’s a mid-paced piece with the verses presented in a semi-spoken manner and then the choruses a little larger, but pretty steady.</div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Young God’</span></em></strong> is a bit of a deep number that initially doesn’t do much for me and then <strong><em>Niall Mathewson’s</em></strong> guitar solo hits and it’s great, kind of rescues the track somewhat, then once it’s back to the song itself, kind of loses it again but then <strong><em>Ronnie Brown</em></strong> pulls out an excellent solo too before the track finishes.</div>
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Kind of a weird one, as both guitar and keys solos I loved, but not so much the rest of this song.</div>
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No doubt prog fans will love it! LOL!</div>
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The next track <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Sacrifice’</span></em></strong> really redeems the band after the last track in my mind and it kicks in with a great rocking guitar riff and chord structure, but then it takes things down a little and up again in the verses. Heck there’s even a little harmony guitar part before the solo and then that big riff kicks in again and the track rocks out at the end, yeah!!! Great!</div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Blackwood’</span></em></strong> is simply a short – two minute - string driven, instrumental interlude that kind of merges into the haunting, ballad like <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Violet Sky’</span></em></strong> that is really ..., simply ..., just that.</div>
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The final closing epic that is <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘XXV Part 2 (The Unmakers Awake)’</span></em></strong> starts gently and slow and then grow into a huge beast before easing back into some choral voices and it fades out, finishing with some radio static to indicate, there’s nothing left, as the graphics in the album notes describe the end of everything …</div>
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So there you have it, big concept piece that could possibly take some growing on some people, but if you’re a prog fan and indeed a <strong><em>Pallas</em></strong> fan from the early days, then you should enjoy this. Not exactly my bag but I enjoyed a lot of this, oh and look for the edition with the bonus live DVD, as the band performs a short, but good set at Loreley, well there’s just four tracks on it.</div>
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Rating: 3.5 out of 5</div>
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Band website: <a href="http://www.pallasxxv.com/" style="color: #444444; text-decoration-line: none;">http://www.pallasxxv.com/</a></div>
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-84546157329280709302018-10-06T12:55:00.000-04:002018-10-06T14:07:29.826-04:00Chambers Of Rock site - Still any interest out there?!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Saturday October 6th, 2018</u></span></h2>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hi folks, well I was just checking the old site to see if it was still drawing any attention and was amazed to see that last month this site actually got over 3,000 views!</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not bad for a site that has not been active for 4 years now.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I thank everyone for the support over the years that </span><span style="color: lime; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chambers of Rock</span><span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> ran actively.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sadly life is such that I still just do not have time to give this site the attention that it deserves.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are some unpublished interviews that I really want to get posted at some time, so who knows, never say never right?!</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Meantime, for anyone still showing any interest at all, here's a few of the interviews I was fortunate enough to have completed during Chambers of Rock's active period!</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I will always remain incredibly thankful for the time that I had when I was able to be an active part of the rock scene.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And yes, I do completely realise that these were simply just a snapshot in time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Enjoy and who knows, you never know ... I may just bring this back!</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cheers, rock on friends!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b><span style="color: lime;"><i>Brian Howe</i></span><i style="color: orange;"> </i><span style="color: orange;">interview - Ex. </span><i><span style="color: lime;">Ted Nugent</span></i><span style="color: orange;"> and </span><span style="color: lime;"><i>Bad Company</i></span><span style="color: orange;"> - December 2010</span></b></u></span></div>
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<a href="http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2010/12/interview-with-vocalist-brian-howe-ex.html"><span style="color: cyan;"><b>http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2010/12/interview-with-vocalist-brian-howe-ex.html</b></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b><span style="color: orange;">Interview with </span><i><span style="color: lime;">David Paich</span></i><span style="color: orange;"> - </span><span style="color: lime;"><i>Toto</i> </span><span style="color: orange;">- Sept. 2012 - Part 1</span></b></u></span></div>
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<a href="http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/search?q=Interview+with+David+Paich"><span style="color: cyan;"><b>http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/search?q=Interview+with+David+Paich</b></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: orange;">And here's Part 2 of that great interview with </span><span style="color: lime;"><i>David Paich</i></span><span style="color: orange;">!</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/search?q=Interview+with+David+Paich+Part+2"><span style="color: cyan;"><b>http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/search?q=Interview+with+David+Paich+Part+2</b></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b><span style="color: orange;">Interview with </span><span style="color: lime;"><i>Joel Hoekstra</i></span><span style="color: orange;"> - </span><span style="color: lime;"><i>Night Ranger, T.S.O</i></span><span style="color: orange;">. and more! - Jan. 2012</span></b></u></span></div>
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<a href="http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2012/01/interview-with-joel-hoekstra-guitarist.html"><span style="color: cyan;"><b>http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2012/01/interview-with-joel-hoekstra-guitarist.html</b></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: orange;">Interview with </span><span style="color: lime;"><i>Andy Parker</i></span><span style="color: orange;"> -</span></u></span><u style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;"> </span><i><span style="color: lime;">UFO</span></i><span style="color: orange;"> </span></u><u style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;">- April 2011</span></u></b></div>
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<a href="http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2011/11/interview-with-andy-parker-ufo.html"><span style="color: cyan;"><b>http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2011/11/interview-with-andy-parker-ufo.html</b></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b><span style="color: orange;">Interview with </span><i><span style="color: lime;">Gil Moore</span></i><span style="color: orange;"> - </span><i><span style="color: lime;">Triumph</span></i><span style="color: orange;"> - July 2010</span></b></u></span></div>
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<a href="http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2010/07/interview-with-gil-moore-triumph.html"><span style="color: cyan;"><b>http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2010/07/interview-with-gil-moore-triumph.html</b></span></a><br />
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<b><u><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interview with </span><span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Howard Leese</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;"> - </span><i><span style="color: lime;">Heart, Bad Company, Paul Rodgers</span></i><span style="color: orange;"> and more!</span></span></u></b><br />
<b><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>July 2012</u></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2012/07/interview-with-howard-leese-2012.html"><b><span style="color: cyan;">http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2012/07/interview-with-howard-leese-2012.html</span></b></a><br />
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-83986186031033369492014-06-17T20:51:00.001-04:002014-06-17T20:52:10.140-04:00Tuesday 17th June, 2014- Chambers of Rock status - The site is sadly now closed!<div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Chambers of Rock status</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>The site is sadly now closed!</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial;"><strong><u>Tuesday 17th June, 2014</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong>Hello All,</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong>Since I still receive many enquiries and requests for reviews at the site, I
just thought I had better post an updated message at the site, to make it clear
to all that sadly 'Chambers of Rock' is indeed closed, until further notice.</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong>Put simply, I just do not have time any longer outside of a hectic day job
and many activities with my young family.<br />Perhaps if there were 48 hours in a
day it might work, but alas we all know this is not the case, even though it
feels like our work can be that way sometimes.</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong>I did originally announce at the beginning of the year, the site's imminent
closure upon completion of some final reviews but since those reviews have
posted, people are assuming the site is still active.<br />Sorry folks, but sadly
it is no more.</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong>Once again, my immense thanks to all who have visited and supported the site
and of course to all the PR contacts, artist managers and artists themselves
that helped me do as much as I could with the site.</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong>All my very best wishes to one and all and never stop rockin'
folks!<br />Cheers,</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Alun Williams<br />Owner / Editor <br />Chambers of Rock</strong></span></div>
cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-66119377625991345342014-03-22T01:04:00.000-04:002014-03-22T01:04:02.640-04:00Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock – ‘Bridge The Gap’ album review<div align="center">
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock – ‘Bridge The Gap’ album review</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong><span style="color: lime;"><u>Released on: inAkustik GmbH. Release date: Available now</u></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just so everyone understands, <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Michael Schenker</span></em></strong> - as anyone that has read <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">Chambers of Rock</span></strong></em> before … - is without doubt, my all-time favourite guitarist. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When word had got out that he was releasing another album under the band project title <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Temple of Rock’</span></em></strong> again, I was of course excited with anticipation of what we would get this time around.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, this time there is a pretty straightforward lineup and it’s not so much of the all-star project that 2011 project was, that said, it is a strong lineup of players that <em><strong>Michael</strong></em> was touring Europe with over the past two or so years.<br />Fronting the band is vocalist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Doogie White (Rainbow, Tank, Yngwie J. Malmsteen)</span></em></strong>, then long stay<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"> MSG</span></em></strong> member <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Wayne Findlay</span></em></strong> on Keys, Guitars and B/Vocals, <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Francis Buchholz (Scorpions)</span></em></strong> on bass and <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Herman ‘Ze German’ Rarebell (Scorpions)</span></em></strong> on drums. Impressive, eh?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Obviously the European live dates went so well, the guys decided to record the next album together.</span></div>
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<br />One element that kind of surprises me is with<strong><em> Herman Rarebell’s</em></strong> successful co-writes with the <strong><em>Scorpions</em></strong> – <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">Rock You Like A Hurricane, Another Piece of Meat, Passion Rules The Game, Make It Real, Blackout</span></em></strong> and more! - that <strong><em>Michael</em></strong> did not ask for his input. Perhaps he and <strong><em>Doogie</em></strong> had already written the tracks, before they recorded them?<br />Whatever the case, they make for a pretty strong song selection.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Opening intro is <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Neptune Rising’</span></strong></em> that has some nice guitar work over a chugging riff for just forty five seconds, before leading into<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Where The Wild Winds Blow,’</span></strong></em> a track that perhaps brings to mind more of the sound / structure that Michael pulled together on <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘In The Midst Of Beauty,’</span></em></strong> an album I have come to enjoy more now than I did at the time.<br />I actually prefer that to the <em><strong>‘Temple of Rock’</strong></em> release.<br /><strong><em>‘Where The Wild Wilds Blow’</em></strong> is indeed is good solid track, capturing the familiar essence of great <em><strong>Schenker </strong></em>releases gone by.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Horizons’</span></em></strong> next once more echoes how I feel about the previous track and it’s funny because <strong><em>Herman Rarebell’s</em></strong> playing typically I would never have compared to say <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Simon Phillips</span></em></strong>, but he really does a great job on this album and I think it is very similar in style on here to <strong><em>Phillips</em></strong> class playing.<br /><em><strong>‘Horizons’</strong></em> is a great up tempo rocker with some great hooks. Nice!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This pattern indeed continues with<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Lord of the Lost and Lonely’</span></em></strong> next and it is certainly very reminiscent of classic <em><strong>MSG</strong></em>.<br />Even some of <em><strong>Wayne Findlay’s</strong></em> touches bring to mind either <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Paul Raymond</span></em></strong> or <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Don Airey</span></strong></em>, although I still sometimes wish – As I’ve said before – that <em><strong>Findlay</strong></em> was a little more audible in the overall mixes, that said it takes nothing away from the class track. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wonderful solo from <strong><em>Michael</em></strong> here, surprise, surprise …, not!<br />The time change on the rhythm on this is clever, it effortless listening to it, but I wonder how long it took to get down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Symphony’</span></em></strong> hits you for six right off the bat. Up-tempo rocker with pounding bass, just crank it up guys! Solid rocker for sure, pummeling bass throughout, solid drums keyboards / Hammond flourishes here and there and of course <em><strong>Mr. Schenker’s</strong></em> solo spot. <br />Perhaps the only thing that it could’ve maybe left out is <strong><em>Doogie White’s</em></strong> dodgy scream around the three minute mark.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To me there’s an almost <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Dio</span></em></strong> or <em><strong>Rainbow</strong></em> like feel about <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘To Live For The King,’</span></em></strong> from its chug along riff, through semi-mystical elements to the way <strong><em>Doogie</em></strong> phrases the song, but of course <strong><em>Michael’s</em></strong> guitar work and little lead touches make it distinctly <strong><em>MSG</em></strong>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A driving riff with drums and bass pushes <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Land of Thunder’</span></em></strong> in your face from the get go, dare I say a little <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">(Iron) Maiden</span></em></strong> like to a degree in some respects and some rapid double kick drumming from <em><strong>Herman Rarebell</strong></em>, drives this super quick!<br />The guitar has a harmonizer that also gives it a little of that <em><strong>Maiden</strong></em> vibe too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Slowing things down a bit is the steady and much less frenetic side that brings <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Temple of the Holy,’</span></em></strong> with some little mystic twists, bringing to mind something again that <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Ritchie Blackmore</span></em></strong> would do from time to time in <em><strong>Rainbow</strong></em> and<strong><em> Michael’s</em></strong> solo even brought to mind <strong><em>Blackmore</em></strong> to a degree, although it did seem a perhaps little here and there in its whole presentation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Shine On’</span></em></strong> sounds a little dark like with its metallic verse riff and some of the kick drum fills and actually reminds me again at times like <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Ronnie James Dio (RIP)</span></em></strong>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nice solo again from <strong><em>Michael</em></strong> if perhaps too brief.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Bridges We Have Burned’ </span></em></strong>next it opens with some nice melodic picking, before coming into the songs main groove, a little dark and edgy through each verse, then a familiar like uplifting chorus. Once again, <em><strong>Michael’s </strong></em>solo work doesn’t disappoint. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sorry to have to say this, but I’m listening to a <strong><em>Michael Schenker</em></strong> album and next there’s a track that really does very little for me indeed. The punky like <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Because You Lied’</span></strong></em> is just off for me. Repetitive and disappointing, that’s all I can say.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A big reprieve comes with<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Black Moon Rising’</span></em></strong> next, even with its darkness as a slow and steady rocker.<br />Perhaps quite <strong><em>Dio,</em></strong> almost <strong><em>Dio</em></strong> era <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Black Sabbath</span></strong></em> like to be honest here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Final track of the album is <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Dance for the Piper’</span></strong></em> that has a much more familiar<strong><em> MSG</em></strong> like groove, nice one to end the disc with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall an album that has grown on me, as I wasn’t sure what to think the first couple of times I heard it.</span></div>
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<br />Once again <strong><em>Michael</em></strong> has teamed up with <em><strong>Michael Voss <span style="color: lime;">(Mad Max, Bonfire)</span></strong></em> and who has also sung on the last <em><strong>‘Temple of Rock’</strong></em> album, to co-produce the release and he seems to have found the perfect foil to work with generally. </div>
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<br />I am sorry to say though that I really do not like the one track<strong><em> ‘Because You Lied’</em></strong> and am surprised at its inclusion, but that’s just me.</div>
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<br />As I’ve said many times before, I do love <strong><em>Michael’s</em></strong> guitar work though, it's so distinctive as well so that’s always good to hear for me and <em><strong>Doogie White’s</strong></em> voice, is one I’m not all that familiar with to be fair. I did hear the <strong><em>Rainbow</em></strong> album he did, but it was hit and miss with me, <strong><em>Tank</em></strong> I was never a fan of, I never heard him with <strong><em>Yngwie J. Malmsteen</em></strong> either. </div>
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The <strong><em>‘Temple of Rock Live’ </em></strong>release was OK, but really didn’t blow me away, but again folks, this is just my opionion.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To my mind, it’s still a good album for the most part, but in places there are still times that I feel it’s just missing something …</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Rating: 3.75 out of 5</strong></span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Website:</strong></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.michaelschenkerhimself.com/home.php"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.michaelschenkerhimself.com/home.php</strong></span></a></div>
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-12361781676202308562014-02-17T13:05:00.000-05:002014-02-17T13:05:10.314-05:00Stryper – ‘No More Hell To Pay’ album review<div align="center">
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Stryper – ‘No More Hell To Pay’ album review</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong><span style="color: lime;"><u>Released on: Frontiers Records. Release date: Available now.</u></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> this is another of my ‘<em>wrapping things up here at <strong><span style="color: orange;">Chambers of Rock</span></strong>, reviews,’</em> which should’ve been posted late last year, but … Regulars and longtime readers know the score and I’m not going to drag this review out longer, by going through the ‘whys’ again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, yes <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Michael Sweet, Robert Sweet, Oz Fox</span></strong></em> and <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Tim Gaines</span></em></strong> got things together once more last year (2013) to record another new <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Stryper</span></em></strong> studio release, in <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘No More Hell To Pay.’</span></em></strong></span></div>
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<br />Over the past decade or so, the <em>‘yellow and black attack’</em> men have been kind of back and forth with their reunions, but I hope now that they are firmly back together for good, even if <strong><em>Michael</em></strong> has been doing his own solo thing in parallel of late.<br />What the heck, why shouldn’t he?!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did love the band’s tribute album to their influences <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘The Covering’</span></em></strong> released in 2011, wonderful versions of some real rock classic tunes. Highly recommend that one to anyone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The guys did re-record a bunch of their classics which was released earlier last year as <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Second Coming,’</span></em></strong> although I never got to hear the re-recordings, but based on their recent form I’m sure it was great!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This new one, <strong><em>‘No More Hell To Pay,’</em></strong> was finally released in November of last year …, yes, I know, slacker right?!</span></div>
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<br />This is an absolute gem and they have really outdone themselves in my opinion, well maybe one track that I’m still not 100% sold on, but maybe that’s because it’s really pretty much too metal like. Yes, I know ..., I know ...<br />The rest of the album really shows some top class melodic hard rock of the very finest variety!<br />I mean seriously, I have found when I put this on in the car, I just don't want to stop playing it and find myself singing along all the time!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Opening track <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Revelation’</span></em></strong> intros with some nice harmonics and power chords before getting into the song proper.<br />A great solid melodic rocker with a sweet solo!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There’s something a little <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Scorpions </span></strong></em>like to me about title track <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘No More Hell to Pay,’</span></em></strong> but I won’t take anything away from <em><strong>Stryper </strong></em>on this track. I just love it and sing it over and over again even when I’m not playing the song, the chorus line comes to mind again and again.<br />Just love the song's overall groove and the whole band’s sound is great and once more a very fine solo!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Saved By Love’</span></em></strong> is next up and is a lot quicker than either of its predecessors, it just drives and really cruises!<br />Love the passionate scream of the chorus line and the drumming is just so tight, almost <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">(Judas) Priest</span></em></strong> like guitar sound, I would just love to jam this tune, wonderful! Totally rocks out!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back on the cover trail next with the band’s interpretation of <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Jesus Is Just Alright With Me,’</span></em></strong> yes the old <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Doobie Brothers</span></strong></em> tune and yet again this one drives until it hits the bridge to ease back into some chugging, crunching riffs and then gets right back into it swing again and pretty much slams, with some sweet interplay on the guitars, nice!</span></div>
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<br />Is it just me or are there moments when <em><strong>Michael Sweet</strong></em> sings, where he’s not unlike <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Dennis DeYoung?</span></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is no slant on the guy, as on so many songs here he totally shows what a great and varying range he has.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘The One’</span></em></strong> is a monster, beautiful power ballad that would be enough to blow away any AOR fan, I swear.<br />Love the harmony guitar parts, beautiful and again, <strong><em>Michael’s</em></strong> voice, just great!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The metal approach next of <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Legacy’</span></strong></em> which start quite heavy before getting into the more melodic chorus, before getting back into its chugging, driving verse once more. <br />I really can’t say enough about how wonderful the guitar solo work on this album is throughout and of course there’s more of that here. Very slick!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK, now it’s<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Marching Into Battle’</span></strong></em> that I really can’t get into and maybe it’s because of its metallic, dare I say <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Metallica</span></strong></em> like sound, but to a degree …, sorry, <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Spinal Tap</span></strong></em> like metal. Just doesn’t work for me, still and I’ve listened to it many times now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The band completely make up for it with the absolutely wonderful <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Te Amo’</span></strong></em> which drives in a very <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">(Iron) Maiden</span></em></strong> like fashion with time changes but it’s just so melodic that it manages to capture the metal edge of say <em><strong>Maiden</strong></em> and yet remains so true to melodic hard rock that <em><strong>Stryper </strong></em>has down to a fine art.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />This track is just complete magic for me and is without doubt my favourite here, wonderful in every way!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Sticks and Stones’</span></em></strong> has a bit of a cheesy title, but it’s a nice groove throughout both verse and chorus and keeps up with the pure strength of songwriting throughout the album. <br />As cheesy perhaps as the title may be considered, it’s a really strong chorus once again. Another winner!</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Water Into Wine’</span></em></strong> of course derives from the bible verse, but it’s a very strong hard melodic rocker indeed, with as much passion and groove as anything here, perhaps even if it may give a little nod here and there to classic early <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Def Leppard.</span></em></strong> <br />Big chanting choruses of course, no real solo here although guitars are howling throughout!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Sympathy’</span></em></strong> it’s again a strong hard rocking gem through each verse and then big harmonious choruses and a truly wonderful soaring lead break before a bridge that takes things down quite a bit with two nice harmony lines and then it powers up to close the track out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Closing track <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Renewed’</span></strong></em> has a riff not unlike something <em><strong>Priest </strong></em>would play, but <strong><em>Michael Sweet’s</em></strong> ever reaching vocals take your mind away from that somewhat but the track cruises before another time changing bridge to bring the tempo down and then it kicks into a nice up tempo groove and solo and proceeds to just kill it!<br />Monster closer, love it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Based on this absolutely storming release from <em><strong>Stryper</strong></em> it seems to me that there’s plenty more life in the band yet!<br />There is apparently a special edition also available, with a bonus DVD that includes two music videos – <strong><em>‘No More Hell To Pay’</em></strong> and <strong><em>‘Sympathy’</em></strong> – and a documentary on the making of the album which I wish I had, but ah well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I said at the start, this album has taken me a while to finally get this review typed up and the chances are, most rock fans that would be likely to get this, got it some time back, but if you’re sitting on the fence, DON’T, get this it is to these ears an absolute gem!</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Rating: 4.75 out of 5</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Website: </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><br /></strong></span><a href="http://www.stryper.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.stryper.com/</strong></span></a></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Buy at:</u></strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-More-Hell-Pay-Stryper/dp/B00EEPFRGE/ref=ntt_mus_ep_dpi_1"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.amazon.com/No-More-Hell-Pay-Stryper/dp/B00EEPFRGE/ref=ntt_mus_ep_dpi_1</span></a></div>
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-38089397698863935522014-01-30T12:47:00.002-05:002014-01-30T12:47:57.810-05:00 The Dead Daisies – Self Titled Debut Album review<div align="center">
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u> The Dead Daisies – Self Titled Debut Album review</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: lime;"><u>Released on: Universal. Release date: Available now.</u></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, this is another album that I’m more than a little behind on getting it wrapped up with the release date ... Sorry, but that said, it seems it's release date seems to have been staggered all around the world and so maybe it's not all that old to everyone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">The Dead Daisies</span></em></strong> – That name, still not sold on … - is a band that was formed around ‘former’ <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Noiseworks / INXS</span></em></strong> lead vocalist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jon Stevens</span></em></strong>, who’s voice may not be everyone’s favorite, but I liked <em><strong>Noiseworks</strong></em> since back in the 90’s so it’s fine by me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Stevens</em></strong> joined forces with ex-<em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Mink</span></strong></em> (?) player <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">David Lowy</span></strong></em> to start writing material for a new project, cue <em><strong>The Dead Daisies</strong></em> in a lineup currently also including guitarist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Richard Fortus</span></em></strong> (Ex-<strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Guns and Roses, Thin Lizzy</span></em></strong>), <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Dizzy Reed</span></strong></em> (Ex-<em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Guns and Roses</span></strong></em>) on keys, <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Darryl Jones</span></em></strong> (<strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Rolling Stones</span></em></strong> – He’d replaced <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Bill Wyman</span></strong></em>) on bass and drummer <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Charley Drayton</span></em></strong> (<strong><em><span style="color: lime;">The X-pensive Winos/The Cult/Cold Chisel</span></em></strong>), is with the current touring band.</span></div>
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Clearly there’s some talent involved in this project, that has switched out the rhythm section already, as they have already had ex-<strong><em>Thin Lizzy</em></strong>, <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Whitesnake, Ted Nugent</span></em></strong> bassist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Marco Mendoza</span></em></strong> onboard for a while and also drummer <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Alex Carapetis (Nine Inch Nails, Julian Casablancas).</span></em></strong> </div>
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The guys also roped in <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Slash</span></em></strong> (<strong><em>Guns ‘n’ Roses, <span style="color: lime;">Velvet Revolver</span></em></strong>) to co-write and play on the first single released from the album, entitled <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Lock ‘N’ Load’</span></em></strong> and <strong><em>Slash</em></strong> distinct sound is clearly present throughout.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s a strange kind of mixture of tunes, not bad and certainly enjoyable perhaps with <em><strong>Jon Stevens</strong></em> influence it’s not that far removed from<em><strong> Noiseworks</strong></em> at times, no bad thing in my book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘It’s Gonna Take Time’</span></em></strong> kicks things off here with some urgency and is rocky and almost a little punky too in its punchiness, that eases back for the chorus a little and there’s even a part that reminds me of <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Pink Floyd’s</span></strong></em> <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Time’</span></strong></em> for a moment in the bridge section.<br />Clever track, with a few turns this way and that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <strong><em>Slash</em></strong> featured track, <strong><em>‘Lock ‘N’ Load’</em></strong> is next and it has a great commercial groove to it, almost bordering a hint of blues with <strong><em>Slash’s</em></strong> style. Nice!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Solid enough tune.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The single <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Washington’</span></em></strong> is next and to me perhaps gives a little nod towards the old classic track <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘American Woman,’</span></strong></em> it’s certainly got a funky kind of groove about it. I like it!<br />I love the keys work from <em><strong>Dizzy Reed</strong></em>, very <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Faces</span></strong></em> like, nice touch!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Yeah, Yeah, Yeah’</span></em></strong> really kind of reminds me of that Americana sound that <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">John Mellencamp</span></strong></em> or <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Tom Petty</span></strong></em> sometimes tends to lean towards, but it’s got a certain tongue in cheek feel to it and an almost <strong><em>(Rolling) Stones</em></strong> like laid back groove too.<br />Rock ‘n’ roll baby!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the melancholy feel about <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Yesterday,’</span></em></strong> it’s a really nice track. Kind of has a laid back <strong><em>Stonesy</em></strong> feel to it too and it seems to grow from a laid back number into something much more!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Writing On The Wall’</span></em></strong> next is quite a laid back atmospheric number, still of course with a cool groove which it seems is something that comes quite naturally to <em><strong>Jon Stevens</strong></em> in his writing … Er, no pun intended here!<br />Just after the midway point, there’s a little bridge that picks it up a little before easing back into the original groove.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back to the more pop / rock punch with <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Miles in Front of Me’</span></strong></em> next, it’s not unlike opener <strong><em>‘It’s Gonna Take Time’</em></strong> at all, very similar indeed at first and then the chorus is a wonderfully smooth melodic groove. Nice, very catchy indeed!<br />Some nice guitar flourishes too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Bible Row’</span></em></strong> is a little pop / rock / new wave number in style, quite up tempo and <em><strong>Dizzy Reed’s</strong></em> keys shine through a little more, and it’s got a nice groove to it too. Kind of a grower tune that may not get you right away, but as the album grows on you from a few more plays this one should too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next track<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Man Overboard’</span></em></strong> was actually I think the first song I heard from these guys, as a free download offered some time back. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s a little off the wall perhaps, a little atmospheric with some punchy elements, but it’s like it never really gets into any pick up groove, but I still like it. Possibly this is down to how many times I’ve heard it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Tomorrow’ </span></em></strong>next I hear quite a bit of a <em><strong>Noiseworks</strong></em> feel about it. <em><strong>Jon Stevens</strong></em> vocal has an edginess in it throughout the verses, laid back musically it tries to remain a little restrained, then in the chorus there’s even more smoothness to it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He almost sounds a little like <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Seal</span></strong></em> in the choruses actually, nothing wrong with that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sub-power ballad time next with<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling’</span></strong></em> and no, it’s not the <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">REO Speedwagon</span></strong></em> tune of the same name!<br />It’s a nicely, almost <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Beatles</span></strong></em>’esque piano driven number.<br />I like the little whistle part that tags along with the guitar solo, it’s different and overall the song has a certain magic to it, that makes you think ‘hit single’ about it with enough plays, but what do I know ..?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Final track here is<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Talk To Me’</span></em></strong> and it’s quite an edgy number without getting too heavy. <br />An interesting bridge that takes it down a little before getting back into its groove once again and then it wraps up the album.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s an album that I can quite happily play again and again and not get tired of at all.<br />There’s points where it’s really catchy, others where it seems a little eclectic then it’s edgy too and also has it’s lulls, so it bounces around quite a bit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I haven’t played any of my <em><strong>Noiseworks</strong></em> stuff in quite a while, so to hear<strong><em> Jon Stevens</em></strong> once again was a great reminder of the kick I got when I first heard them, time to dig some out again!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does this sound like <em><strong>Noiseworks</strong></em> though? Well, with <em><strong>Jon’s</strong></em> vocal it’s hard not to draw some comparison, but <strong><em>Noiseworks</em></strong> switched things around quite a bit too so ... If you liked <strong><em>Noiseworks</em></strong>, you make up your own mind. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is an album that certainly takes a few different twists and turns here and there, that are maybe a little different from <em><strong>Noiseworks</strong></em>, so to me it’s fresh and I kind of like it! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is it out and out stunning, well …, that’s down to the individual of course and it’s not quite stunning for me, but it does have a refreshing kind of vibe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong><u>Website:</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://thedeaddaisies.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://thedeaddaisies.com/</strong></span></a></div>
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-43908944006774321332014-01-25T18:38:00.002-05:002014-01-25T18:38:19.886-05:00Leslie West – 'Still Climbing' album review<div align="center">
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Leslie West – 'Still Climbing' album review</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong><span style="color: lime;"><u>Released on: Provogue / Mascot Records. Release date: Available now</u></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here’s the thing, when I first heard <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Mountain</span></strong></em>, many moons ago – ‘70’s - the song / tune was <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Nantucket Sleigh ride’</span></strong></em> and that was the one and only track I ever recall liking from <strong><em>Mountain</em></strong>, even though I once owned the <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Twin Peaks’</span></strong></em> album.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />They just never clicked with me, I really wish I could say different as they have a significant history / back catalogue and of course this was where one <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Leslie West</span></strong></em> came from. <br />Understand this though, I always knew and respected <em><strong>Leslie West’s</strong></em> abilities, great player but <em><strong>Mountain</strong></em> to me, just weren’t my bag.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then coming on a number of years, I recall my favourite guitar player <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Michael Schenker</span></strong></em> announced he was recording with <em><strong>Leslie West</strong></em> and methinks …, hmmm, what will this be like then …<br />Well I heard the material and for me, it was alright but it was lacking something that really, really grabbed me and after playing this here album, might I say to death, I might just have to go back and revisit that material!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Still Climbing’</span></em></strong> is one of those albums you get to hear and then kick yourself for not previously ‘paying attention before,’ what was I thinking?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also <strong>MUST</strong> get myself a copy of<em><strong> Leslie’s</strong></em> last album <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Unusual Suspects,’</span></em></strong> as if it’s a patch on this – Which it most certainly must be just based on <em><strong>Leslie’s</strong></em> special guests on that one alone. – it’s surely a winner!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mean that last album featured many of my personal favourite guitar players including <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Steve Lukather</span></em></strong> and <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Joe Bonamassa</span></strong></em> to name just two, it also featured major names like <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Slash, Billy Gibbons</span></strong></em> and <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Zakk Wylde</span></em></strong>, so right there is good reason to go and check it out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>‘Still Climbing’</em></strong> features special guests once again with the likes of <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jonny Lang, Johnny Winter</span></em></strong>, as well as perhaps two stranger choices in<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"> Twisted Sister</span></em></strong> frontman <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Dee Snider</span></em></strong> and<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"> Creed / Alter Bridge</span></em></strong> man <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Mark Tremonti</span></em></strong>, impressive huh?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Something else to keep in mind too, is that <strong><em>Leslie West</em></strong> loves to woo audiences with his brand of rocking as well as sometime very soulful blues, so when the poor guy through his battle with diabetes lost his right leg (2011), you’d think it would really make him think twice about continuing on with this demanding career. Not a chance!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The guy has come back, guns a blazing if you will with two storming albums – As I said, I’ve read the reviews elsewhere on <em><strong>‘Unusual Suspects,’</strong></em> which got much praise and this one can rock you hard as well as move you soulfully. I’m telling you straight, it’s a great album.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Opening with the hard rocking groove of <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Dyin’ Since The Day I was Born’</span></strong></em> which just had me sold from the very first time it open up! Such a great hook and he’s ably supported here by his backing band. Hard hitting drums, pumping bass, a smidgen of keys somewhere in the mix and of course the man himself on lead vocals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Get this though, I have to say from the press release I don’t know who plays bass here or drums and my promo copy of the album did not give it either. Huge kudos to his band throughout though.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This album is also capturing his life story to a degree as well, look at the opener’s song title and it’s lyrics also tell quite the tale, so when I see that the next song is titled <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Busted, Disgusted or Dead,’ </span></strong></em>there you have it right?!<br />I mean this guy has really been through quite the grinder even beating off bladder cancer at one point.<br />So on <strong><em>‘Busted, Disgusted or Dead’</em></strong> <strong><em>Leslie</em></strong> trades slide guitar licks with yet another legendary player in <em><strong>Johnny Winter.</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have to tell you, this has such an awesome classic deep, yet dirty blues groove that it made me wonder if it wasn’t <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Joe Bonamassa</span></em></strong> on here. It’s just great, <strong><em>Leslie</em></strong> and <strong><em>Johnny</em></strong> lay it right on the line!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Fade into You’</span></strong></em> opens with a soulful vocal line and some nice acoustic playing and then it kicks in and this just gives me goose bumps when the solo kicks in too. Not unlike <em><strong>Schenker’s</strong></em> style too. Love it!<br />It’s funny you know as at times I’m even reminded by his vocal of <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Graham Bonnet</span></em></strong>, quite harsh, yet appropriate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Creeping up on you is the approach of <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Not Over You At All,’</span></strong></em> and then it gathers a kind of sexy vibe if you will with some sax, I mean that’s really how it hits me. <br />Love where the guitar follows the vocal line too, another little treat and the underlying Hammond organ is sweet. Good stuff indeed! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Tales of Woe’</span></em></strong> is beautifully presented and is another soulful touch, led in with acoustic guidance and some beautifully – Again very reminiscent of <strong><em>Schenker </em></strong>– lead work. Nice!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next up is a cover of <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Anthony Newley’s</span></em></strong> <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Feeling Good,’</span></strong></em> again perhaps is a reference to his life experiences of late, especially the line, <strong><em>‘It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for me,’</em></strong> where it reflects on his life changes to try and perhaps improve his life in these latter years and why not, perhaps a little late <em><strong>Leslie </strong></em>but heck, with what you’ve battled man and how you’ve come out the other side with class playing like this, you go man!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />This track also features <strong><em>Dee Snider</em></strong> trading vocal lines with <strong><em>West</em></strong> and if I didn’t read it, I wouldn’t know it, Nicely done!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I guess <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Hatfield or McCoy’</span></em></strong> meant nothing to me story wise but I guess there’s a story out there – I did actually notice a DVD with this title recently, but still know nothing more as I didn’t have time to stop and read the cover notes. – and this one follows a down and dirty groove and once more some slick guitar solo work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then perhaps a surprise when <strong><em>Leslie </em></strong>pulls out the <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Percy Sledge</span></strong></em> classic, <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘When A Man Loves A Woman’ </span></strong></em>and is joined by the soulful<strong><em> Jonny Lang</em></strong> to share vocals duties. Some wicked and soulful guitar touches here and once more the dueling comes into play a little. Great interpretation indeed!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An old <em><strong>Mountain</strong></em> number in <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Long Red’</span></em></strong> gets the redo treatment next and for this <em><strong>Leslie</strong></em> brought in his brother<em><strong><span style="color: lime;"> Larry West</span></strong></em> on bass and it brings it right up to date and I can say nothing wrong about this at all! Nice tune.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong><em>Leslie</em></strong> maybe you could start redoing the whole <em><strong>Mountain</strong></em> back catalogue as I like how you do this very much!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK, I know I’ve referenced <strong><em>Michael Schenker</em></strong> at least twice already but next track <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Don’t Ever Let Me Go’</span></em></strong> really reminds me in its style of something that was on the <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">MSG</span></em></strong> comeback album <strong><em><span style="color: lime;"><span style="color: orange;">‘In The Midst Of Beauty.’</span></span></em></strong>Really love the plucking like, almost with a kind of Middle Eastern, exotic like little picking style solo licks, quite similar to <strong><em>Schenker</em></strong> and there’s nothing wrong with that!<br />It’s a great rocking number indeed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then to close the album a little bass interpretation of <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘(Somewhere) Over The Rainbow’</span></strong></em> entitled <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Rev Jones Time’</span></em></strong> so I’m guessing it’s ex-<em><strong>Schenker </strong></em>bassist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Rev Jones</span></em></strong> on bass here. - Doesn't say in the notes ...<br />Fun little closing number.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This really is as I said before a really great and enjoyable album that I could play again and again every day and never get tired of it at all.<br />Nice one <em><strong>Leslie</strong></em>, so what’s next?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Rating: 4.5 out of 5</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Website:</strong></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.mountainrockband.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.mountainrockband.com/</strong></span></a><br />
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-19361985426569551362014-01-23T23:57:00.004-05:002014-01-24T01:46:32.533-05:00RIP Fergie Frederiksen - 1951 to 2014<div align="center">
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>RIP Fergie Frederiksen</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>15th May 1951 to 18th January 2014</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last weekend, on Saturday 18th January, the world lost a true advocate of melodic rock / AOR music in <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Fergie Frederiksen</span></em></strong>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Dennis 'Fergie' Frederiksen</span></strong></em> was one truly great singer, a wonderful talent who sadly lost his battle with cancer that he had been fighting since 2010.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My huge personal regret is that I never got to see <em><strong>Fergie</strong></em> performing live with one of my all time favourite bands <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Toto</span></strong></em> or another favourite band of mine, <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Mecca</span></strong></em>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I never met or spoke to the guy, but have always admired the talent that he exuded.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I personally never discovered the guy's obvious talent until I first heard <strong><em>Toto's</em></strong> excellent <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">'Isolation'</span></strong></em> album released in 1984.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1951, his first success was with the Chicago born band <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Trillion</span></em></strong>, whose first album was released in 1978 and from the attention the band drew at the time, it landed them opening tour slots with both <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Styx </span></strong></em>and <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Heart</span></strong></em>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">He briefly worked with AOR legends <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Angel</span></strong></em> in 1981 before moving onto other things, as <em><strong>Angel</strong></em> fell apart soon after, although it was with <em><strong>Angel</strong></em> where he made a connection with <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Ricky Phillips</span></em></strong>, which turned out to be useful further into <em><strong>Fergie's</strong></em> career.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In 1982 he worked with <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Survivor</span></strong></em> singing background vocals on a number of tracks on their mega hit album <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'Eye of the Tiger.'</span></em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In 1983 he joined <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">La Roux</span></strong></em> and went on to appear on just one studio album with the band which was the release, <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'So Fired Up'</span></em></strong> that produced the <strong><em>Frederiksen</em></strong> penned minor hit <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'Carrie's Gone,'</span></em></strong> but once again it seemed <strong><em>Frederiksen's</em></strong> time with a band was short lived.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was touching base once more with<em><strong> Ricky Phillips</strong></em>, that led to <strong><em>Fergie</em></strong> being introduced to <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Journey's Jonathan Cain</span></em></strong>, who along with <em><strong>Phillips</strong></em> and <em><strong>Cain's </strong></em>singing wife at the time <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Tané Cain</span></em></strong> put together the side project <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Abandon Shame</span></strong></em>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sadly, even with all the talent involved and famed producer <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Kevin Olsen</span></strong></em>, it once more did not last so long, no album completed - to my knowledge - just a handful of songs, some of which did make it onto the soundtrack of <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">'The Terminator'</span></strong></em> movie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was soon after this, that the <em><strong>Toto</strong></em> connection took place, since<strong><em> Fergie's</em></strong> old friend <strong><em>Ricky Phillips</em></strong> gave late <strong><em>Toto </em></strong>drummer<em><strong><span style="color: lime;"> Jeff Porcaro (RIP)</span></strong></em> a demo of <em><strong>Fergie's</strong></em> work, after <strong><em>Phillips</em></strong> learned of <em><strong>Toto</strong></em> letting lead singer <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Bobby Kimball</span></em></strong> go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sure enough<strong><em> Toto</em></strong> and <em><strong>Fergie </strong></em>clicked and they went on to complete the excellent <strong><em>'Isolation' </em></strong>album in 1984. One of my all time favourites, ever! Which again was why I was deeply saddened when I learned a few years back of <em><strong>Fergie's</strong></em> illness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">He was also involved in the soundtrack album <em><strong>Toto</strong></em> did for the <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">'Dune'</span></strong></em> movie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">After parting ways with <em><strong>Toto</strong></em>, during early sessions of the <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">'Fahrenheit' </span></strong></em>album recording, <strong><em>Fergie</em></strong> decided to go out on the road solo touring playing <strong><em>Toto</em></strong> sets, which sadly created some issues between the two parties and the band took action to prevent <strong><em>Fergie</em></strong> from doing this any longer, due to <strong><em>Fergie</em></strong> performing songs that he had no part in writing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For a few years, <strong><em>Fergie</em></strong> dropped out of the music scene before </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><em><strong>Fergie</strong></em> and <strong><em>Ricky Phillips</em></strong> reunited to create and release the <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Frederiksen / Phillips</span></strong></em> self titled album in 1995.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A dream record for many AOR fans, as it featured many name artists such as <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Neal Schon, Deen Castronova, Tim Pierce, Steve Farris, Bruce Gowdy, Bobby Blotzer</span></em></strong> and backing vocals from the likes of <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Robin McAuley</span></em></strong> and <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">David Glen Eisley</span></strong></em> to name just a handful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A solo album in the shape of <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'Equilibrium'</span></em></strong> was release by <em><strong>Fergie</strong></em> in 1999 and it also featured a serious all star lineup and was equally well received by the genre.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Various side projects where he offered his services followed before <em><strong>Fergie</strong></em> next hooked up with <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Jim Peterik </span>(Survivor)</strong></em> once again, who was putting together a new project with vocalist <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Joe Vana</span></strong></em>, fellow ex-<em><strong>Toto</strong></em> player in bassist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">David Hungate</span></em></strong>, <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Mike Aquino</span></em></strong> on guitars, <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Jimmy Nichols</span></strong></em> (Keys) and<em><strong><span style="color: lime;"> Shannon Forrest</span></strong></em> on drums.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The project name <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Mecca</span></em></strong>, the album the same name,<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> 'Mecca!'</span></strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Released in 2002, it was quite <em><strong>Toto</strong></em> like with a twist, an album I enjoyed very much too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Fergie then got back to involvement in various side projects before the nicely put together album under the project name <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Frederiksen / Denander</span></em></strong> as <strong><em>Fergie</em></strong> joined up with session guitarist <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Tommy Denander</span></strong></em> for<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> 'Baptism of Fire'</span></strong></em> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">in 2007.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Other all star project work continued before the sad announcement in 2010 that <strong><em>Fergie</em></strong> had cancer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>Fergie</em></strong> was not going down without a fight though and released two very good albums indeed with 2011's <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'Happiness is the Road'</span></em></strong> - a brave title for a man battling cancer - and last year's <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">'Any Given Moment,'</span></strong></em> <em><strong>Fergie</strong></em> was doing things in style until the bitter end.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">He was scheduled to hopefully, perhaps optimistically, appear at last years <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">Melodic Rock Fest 3</span></strong></em> but alas it was not to be, as he was not well enough.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sadly, as the statement 'all good things must come to an end' goes, last Saturday we lost a very, very good vocalist and musical talent indeed as <em><strong>Dennis 'Fergie' Frederiksen</strong></em> finally lost his four year battle with cancer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">He will be greatly missed by so many people in the melodic rock genre.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">RIP <strong><em>Fergie</em></strong>, no more pain ... Thank you for so much wonderful music.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Thoughts and prayers and deepest sympathies go out to <strong><em>Fergie's </em></strong>family at this time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So sorry for your loss and such a great loss.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A great vocal to remember <em><strong>Fergie</strong></em> by, his re-recorded version of the <strong><em>Toto</em></strong> classic track, <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'Angel Don't Cry.'</span></em></strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOQo0lQtDlw"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOQo0lQtDlw</strong></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong> Website:</strong></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.fergiefrederiksen.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.fergiefrederiksen.com/</strong></span></a></div>
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-3552000282386391242014-01-18T11:56:00.000-05:002014-01-18T11:56:20.200-05:00Richie Onori's Blues Messenger - 'In The Name Of Freedom' album review<div align="center">
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Richie Onori's Blues Messenger </u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>'In The Name Of Freedom' album review</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong><span style="color: lime;"><u>Released on: Onori Entertainment. Release Date: Available now.</u></span></strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwa2zA0As6ce1lM1ie9Q_oWZu1j8JTlQK8Cbpwp34K_VEEd-LX7rq5Dvsr_aN_53HXdmpiKQnzogcsSjFjkiIkPXIbiWMsw4rML0hAuZz9DS1bHAZ_cFcDW-jhk11w_okrFYlidr56TTE/s1600/Richie+Onori+In+The+Name+Of+Freedom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwa2zA0As6ce1lM1ie9Q_oWZu1j8JTlQK8Cbpwp34K_VEEd-LX7rq5Dvsr_aN_53HXdmpiKQnzogcsSjFjkiIkPXIbiWMsw4rML0hAuZz9DS1bHAZ_cFcDW-jhk11w_okrFYlidr56TTE/s1600/Richie+Onori+In+The+Name+Of+Freedom.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Richie Onori</span></em></strong> is not your typical frontman by any means, as the guy typically occupies the back seat, as the rhythm section foundation as drummer in both <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Steve Priest's</span></em></strong> version of <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">The Sweet</span></em></strong> and the <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Stuart Smith</span></em></strong> led band, <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Heaven + Earth</span></strong></em> who in fact <strong><em>Onori </em></strong>has been a part of since their first album.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Having seen <strong><em>Onori</em></strong> with <em><strong>The Sweet</strong></em> on three occasions and with <strong><em>Heaven + Earth</em></strong> - Sadly only - once, he is a more than solid drummer!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the thing though and perhaps to many people's surprise, the guy has actually put out two previous solo releases, the all-star <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">'Three Wishes'</span></strong></em> album in 2009 and then <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">'Days of Innocence'</span></strong></em> in 2012, prior to this his latest release here <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">'In The Name Of Freedom.'</span></strong></em><br />This new album actually features two songs from the<em><strong> ‘Three Wishes’</strong></em> album redone, in <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘American Fighters’</span></em></strong> and <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Come Together We’re the U.S.A.’</span></strong></em> which was originally titled simply <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘We’re the U.S.A.’</span></em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This latest album was also produced by <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Dave Jenkins</span></em></strong> who also twiddled the knobs on the latest <strong><em>Heaven + Earth</em></strong> release <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Dig’</span></em></strong> that <em><strong>Onori</strong></em> was of course a part of. <em><strong>Jenkins</strong></em> also adds backing vocals throughout too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />All the songs presented here were written by <em><strong>Richie Onori</strong></em> and he also sings, plays guitar, drums and harmonica on here.<br />Not bad huh?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His guests on here include the slick guitarist <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Phil Woodward</span></strong></em>, various bass players such as <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Marvin Sperling, David Chamberlain, Mark Meadows</span></strong></em> and<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"> Will McGregor</span></em></strong>, <strong><em>Dave Jenkins</em></strong> also adds some Hammond B3 work and keyboards, also helping out on Hammond is <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Dickie Sims</span></em></strong> and <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">John ‘J.T.’ Thomas</span></strong></em>, as well as <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Jon Greathouse</span></strong></em> on keys too.<br />On Sax <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Chris Mostert</span></em></strong>, Trumpet work by <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Bill Lamb, Mark Josephson</span></strong></em> on violin and the list goes on with many more including a whole host of background singers - Sorry I didn't include everyone's name, on credits alone I could've gone on quite a bit! - so you get the picture, a lot went into this folks! Phew! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To open the album <strong><em>Richie </em></strong>has a recording of some crowd demonstration, protest or similar to tie in with the songs title and it’s apparent message, <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Power To the People’</span></em></strong> also includes a version of what <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jimi Hendrix</span></em></strong> did with <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Star Spangled Banner’</span></em></strong> and what sounds like a bunch of 'young un’s' chanting a little sarcastic dig perhaps, with instead of <strong><em>‘God Bless America’ </em></strong>or similar it's <strong><em>‘God Bless G.E., God Bless Citigroup ...,’</em></strong> you get the picture I’m sure.<br /><strong><em>Richie’s</em></strong> vocal here is considerably edgier than on his last album,<em><strong> ‘Days of Innocence’</strong></em> which was what he had told me was his intention with this album last year, when I chatted with him before a local <em><strong>Sweet </strong></em>gig in the Detroit area.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />It’s certainly a much rockier affair from the get go this time around and I like it!<br /><em><strong>‘Power To The People’</strong></em> is like a rallying of the troops call, for people to stand up for what they believe in and not be pushed around and it really has a lovely hook guitar riff that pops up again and again, edgy and a sweet lick! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s an album that has quite a retro type feel and sound to it indeed, but in a refreshing kind of way.<br />It’s quite possible that people may not be too sure of <em><strong>Richie’s</strong></em> vocal, but it’s kind of unique and cool to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Hey You (You’d Better Think Again)’</span></em></strong> is next and again there’s a message to the song.<br />It’s kind of a funky rocking groove on the opening two numbers, that may not grab you right away, but really got my attention to want to listen to it again and then again. It’s got something, that’s rocky yet perhaps a little eclectic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sorry <strong><em>Richie</em></strong>, you may not like this but <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Long Live Rock’</span></strong></em> next has a real retro <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Alice Cooper</span></em></strong> type vibe about it right down to the opening line, <em><strong>‘I turn it inside out, You’ve got me under my wheels …’</strong></em> Ha! I love it<em><strong> Richie</strong></em>!<br />That said the chorus line doesn’t follow the same path and it’s a pretty basic, straight forward catchy chorus.<br />I love the intermittent guitar wailing throughout though, tasty playing.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Something also that <em><strong>Richie</strong></em> has in abundance throughout the choruses is big harmony vocals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong>‘American Fighters’</strong></em> next has an almost <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Little Steven</span></strong></em> meets <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">John Mellencamp</span></em></strong> feel to it, some Americana I guess, a little like the old <em><strong>Cat Stevens</strong></em> track <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Cat’s in the Cradle’</span></strong></em> to a certain extent too<br />Clearly another rallying song as well..<br />It’s one of those songs too that when you hear it, I’d go so far as to say if this suddenly got a little radio play, it could really get people’s attention and a chance that maybe, just maybe it could be a hit. When you hear it, you’ll know exactly what I mean.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A song for the traditional American Indian next in <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Buffalo Nation’</span></em></strong> that again has perhaps more of that retro <strong><em>Alice Cooper</em></strong> – <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Go To Hell’</span></strong></em> – groove to it and a wonderfully soaring female vocal at one point too.<br />It has a solid chug along groove throughout, even with maybe a nod to <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Pink Floyd</span></em></strong> with the songs layers throughout.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The project title song next in <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Blues Messenger’</span></strong></em> introduced with some underlying B3 and some melancholy acoustic guitar and then it kicks into a rocking groove briefly, before easing back a little through the second verse.<br />The chorus is driven with some funk rocking B3 and once more big choral vocal, borderline gospel.<br />This was what I meant about the eclectic feel to the album too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It certainly has it’s rocking moments, but some soulful ones and Americana throughout.<br />It is a retro vibe without any doubt, but what <em><strong>Richie</strong></em> has captured here has a kind of uniqueness about it that makes it interesting to want to listen to it again and – for me – again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘In The Name Of Freedom’</span></strong></em> brings to mind <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Bob Marley</span></em></strong>, with its sub-reggae groove not really my bag, but it’s message and vibe just really kind of ties in with I think <strong><em>Richie</em></strong> was looking to achieve with the overall feel / vibe of the album.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alright, <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Come Together We’re The USA’ </span></strong></em>is a monster groove and I totally love the buildup intro and then it gets into its stride and it’s a track that has a lot going on throughout musically and vocally.<br />It’s kind of like the album’s epic track with it’s up, down changes throughout.<br />I kind of get the sense that maybe this is <strong><em>Richie’s (Bruce) Springsteen</em></strong> album, with its vibe throughout and the various messages that go with that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘The Answer’</span></em></strong> is the final track here and it’s certainly an up-tempo number and once again a big vocal harmony chorus, but it’s got a nice groove throughout, some wonderful B3 jamming once more and is rocking closer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I’ve already mentioned before, throughout the album there is no question that <em><strong>Richie</strong></em> and his friends want to share a message or two with us all, so yes there is that to it which may perhaps put off more of the rockers that follow <em><strong>Richie </strong></em>when he plays with <strong><em>The Sweet</em></strong> or <strong><em>Heaven + Earth</em></strong>, but if your taste is a little more open minded then maybe try this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My references to similarities to other songs / artists throughout, is the same with this album as it is with any other review I do, as often friends ask me ‘<em><strong>So what’s that new album from so and so like?’</strong></em> If I simply say it’s really good or it rocks or even, it’s not for me, then they come back with yeah, but does it sound like anything or anyone else?<br />So I never mean to insult any artist when I cross reference anyone else, I’m simply giving them a little pointer in my view.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think <strong><em>Richie</em></strong> is a great guy, solid drummer and based on this album, not too shabby on the guitar either!<br />Some people may not get his voice at once, but give it a chance with the sound he has here, you just maybe glad you did!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I love the albums he has played on, but as with many musicians there comes a time when they just want to do their thing and I thing <strong><em>Richie</em></strong> has more than earned that right to do just that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With this album, he certainly gets my vote!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Rating: 4 out of 5</strong><br /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><br /></strong></span><a href="http://richieonori.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://richieonori.com/</strong></span></a></div>
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-29697016189763188182014-01-07T18:03:00.000-05:002014-01-07T18:10:29.411-05:00Chambers of Rock - Site Status - January 7th, 2014<div align="center">
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u><strong>Chambers of Rock - Site Status - January 7th, 2014</strong></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Hello All,</em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Happy New Year to everyone!</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Sadly, with the New Year I have reached a point where the it is with very much regret that I must inform you all, that as much as I have tried to continue to keep Chambers of Rock running over the past year and a half, that I cannot any longer do so.</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>With my current work / day job and family life too, it has been put simply, become unrealistic to continue to even try to just cover any reviews whatsoever, leave alone news updates, interviews, etc.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>So I have now come to the decision where I have no choice but to close the Chambers of Rock site down.<br />Unfortunately too, this is not like my statement at the beginning of last year either, with the temporary closure, this I'm quite certain is permanent.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Since starting Chambers of Rock in December 2009, it was great to finally 'be in control' of as much coverage as I wanted to do, with no restrictions.<br />It really felt good!<br />I had some great years from 2010 - 2012, but 2013 was a real struggle though and my day job has just made it impossible to do much at all.</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>I even changed my job to go and work for someone else, with the hope of having more realistic opportunity to keep things going. That didn't work and in fact it has become worse!</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>I greatly appreciate all that you have done in following Chambers of Rock and I'm even more pleased that you have enjoyed the interviews, reviews and that you have been introduced to artists you had not listened to before and sent me you pleasure in my introducing you to them. You're welcome! :)</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>I am forever in your debt folks for the support.</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>Over 200,000 views over the sites different pages has been extremely pleasing.</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>I have been very fortunate in that I started writing for Dave White at the Classic Rock section of About.com for just under 5 years, briefly covered some live reviews for Jeb at Classic Rock Revisited and then briefly for Rock 'n' Roll Universe and then finally Chambers of Rock for just over four years.</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>I had hoped this could've gone further as when work was more realistic, I got a real kick out of being able to share some fantastic press releases / news updates, exclusive interviews and sharing my thoughts on some really killer albums and DVDs! </em></strong></span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My utmost thanks too go out to all the musicians who have been so kind to give me their very limited time on interviews, some chatting away kindly for well over an hour, sometimes an hour and half, fantastic times, thank you all!</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial;">To the best PR people in the world and you know who you are, professional to a fault!</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial;">Thank you, with the material and your backing / support, I wouldn't have been able to bring Chambers of Rock to the world!</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial;">There will be a handful more reviews that will be posted, that I have promised I would post, although they were releases from November / December 2013, that really shows how little time I have had to do anything with the site.</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial;">I hope to post those in the next couple of weeks ..., but ..., well, we'll see.</span></em></strong><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Once again, I thank you all so much for all you did and have done with me on this journey!</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>So I come to the point where I wish you all, nothing but the very best and I wish you all every success with everything you do in life!</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">Have a fantastic year and many more to come and don't forget, keep on rockin'!</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: lime;">Alun Williams</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: lime;">Owner / Editor </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: orange;">Chambers of Rock</span></strong><br />
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-86169096148580591282013-12-24T23:12:00.000-05:002013-12-24T23:12:26.860-05:00Merry Christmas ! - Christmas Eve - December 24th, 2013<div align="center">
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Christmas Eve - December 24th, 2013</u></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Merry Christmas Everyone!!!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would just like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a wonderful and Merry Christmas!</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope your New Year also brings you absolutely everything you wish for, including happiness, health and my very best wishes for a successful year, in however you choose to measure your successes!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thank everyone out for all of your continued support even though Chambers of Rock has faded somewhat from where it has and had been in the first few years of running it.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been very tough to maintain the level of coverage I would've loved to have provided.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So on that note, thank you all, you've been great, you've taken the site to just over 208K page views in four year and that means more than I could've ever imagined.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also offer my huge thanks to all the fantastic musicians who have not been egotistical and have been more than humble. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks guys!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To all my PR contacts, thank you for all you have done to allow me to cover what I have!</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take care one and one, Merry Christmas and have a rockin' New Year!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alun Williams</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Owner / Editor</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chambers of Rock</span></strong><br />
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-50720338606333213632013-12-11T07:15:00.002-05:002013-12-11T07:15:49.703-05:00Deep Purple – ‘Perfect Strangers Live’ DVD review<div align="center">
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Deep Purple – ‘Perfect Strangers Live’ DVD review</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong><span style="color: lime;"><u>Released on: Eagle Rock. Release date: Available now</u></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For so many rock fans, when<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"> Deep Purple</span></em></strong> announced in 1984 that <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Ian Gillan</span></em></strong> and<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"> Ritchie Blackmore</span></em></strong> had set aside their differences and had agreed to make the reformation of the classic Mark 2 <em><strong>Deep Purple</strong></em> line up a reality, there was a great buzz in the world of rock again!</span></div>
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<br />The lineup of <strong><em>Ian Gillan</em></strong> (Vocals), <strong><em>Ritchie Blackmore</em></strong> (Guitar), <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jon Lord</span></em></strong> (RIP - Keys), <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Roger Glover</span></strong></em> (Bass) and <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Ian Paice</span></strong></em> on drums who produced such classics as <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Highway Star,’ ‘Speed King,’ ‘Lazy,’ ‘Black Night,’ ‘Smoke On The Water,’ ‘Fireball,’ ‘Woman From Tokyo’</span></em></strong> and <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Space Truckin’,’</span></strong></em> to name just a handful between the years of 1970 to 1973, were finally back together! </div>
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During that time, they produced four great studio albums and wonderful live release that every good rock fan home should own, <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Made in Japan.’</span></strong></em></div>
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<br />Sadly ego’s took over and <strong><em>Ian Gillan</em></strong> was out and <strong><em>Purple</em></strong> brought in <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">David Coverdale</span></em></strong>, for the next album <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'Burn,'</span></em></strong> They also let <em><strong>Roger Glover</strong></em> go too and in came <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Glenn Hughes</span></strong></em> and Mark 3 <em><strong>Purple</strong></em> was born …, but that’s a story for another day!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1984 the press release flew around like wild fire and the ensuing press conferences were endless it seemed and then they hit the road, first in Australia where this live DVD was recorded.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thirteen classic <em><strong>Purple </strong></em>tracks are included here with five of the thirteen coming from the reunion release,<span style="color: orange;"> <em><strong>‘Perfect Strangers.’</strong></em></span></span></div>
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<br />There’s also a brief interlude from <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Blackmore’s Rainbow</span></em></strong>, with the instrumental<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Difficult to Cure’</span></em></strong> and I guess it’s a nice touch and tribute to the late, great <strong><em>Jon Lord</em></strong> that one of the actual fifteen tracks is titled <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Keyboard Solo.’</span></em></strong><br />Of course <strong><em>Ritchie Blackmore</em></strong> solos and adlibs throughout and <strong><em>Ian Paice</em></strong> even gets a little solo spot, but I’m not saying where, although you can probably guess! ;-)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s sad in the end that they only recorded one more studio album with <strong><em>Blackmore</em></strong> in the lineup, <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘House of Blue Light’</span></em></strong> and that having been a <strong><em>Purple</em></strong> fan for so many years, that I never did get to see this lineup playing live.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For <strong><em>‘Perfect Strangers’</em></strong> at the time in the UK they played just one show, Knebworth in 1985 and although I had attended a number of outdoor festivals by then, the thought of Knebworth and who knew how many tickets would be sold, I was prepared to wait until they toured the UK proper.<br />It really didn’t happen and the <strong><em>‘House of Blue Light’</em></strong> tour in 1987 was very limited, just five dates in the UK two in London, two in Scotland and one in Birmingham … I didn’t go … Much to my later regret!</span></div>
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<br />That was the last tour <strong><em>Blackmore </em></strong>did with them so the reunion had lasted about as long as the original Mark 2 lineup.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, to the DVD then from <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">Eagle Rock</span></em></strong> which finally makes available official, professionally shot footage from that tour, when so little footage has actually been available.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is bonus feature, which is a documentary that to be honest, kind of has its moments where the band are interviewed in different settings and through it all, how many times does <strong><em>Blackmore </em></strong>speak to reporters? Not once! Sad …</span></div>
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<br />The concert is pretty good though, back to basics stage set, kicking off with the excellent <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Highway Star.’</span></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Nobody’s Home’</span></em></strong> next from the <em><strong>‘Perfect Strangers’</strong></em> album rocks out well and of course <strong><em>Ritchie Blackmore</em></strong> looks his typical moody self and <em><strong>Jon Lord</strong></em> jams a little and then <strong><em>Mr. Blackmore</em></strong> gets to rock out a little too, with some nice touches.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A little chat from <em><strong>Ian Gillan</strong></em> before<em><strong> ‘Strange Kind of Woman’</strong></em> takes a hold with <strong><em>Blackmore</em></strong> milking the solo spot before the <em><strong>Gillan</strong></em> vocal play off with <em><strong>Blackmore’s </strong></em>guitar, which includes a little snatch of <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Jesus Christ Superstar’</span></strong></em> part of <em><strong>Gillan’s </strong></em>history, some <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Waltzing Matilda’</span></strong></em> from <strong><em>Blackmore</em></strong> before wrapping the song up, after eight and a half minutes!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘A Gypsy’s Kiss’</span></em></strong> from the <strong><em>‘ … Strangers’</em></strong> album, is led into with a little blues before the driving riff develops and powers on through.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The band is solid with <strong><em>Roger Glover</em></strong> and <strong><em>Ian Paice</em></strong> keeping it driving, <strong><em>Jon Lord's</em></strong> wonderful touches, <strong><em>Gillan</em></strong> not sounding bad at all and <em><strong>Blackmore</strong></em>, well, he does his own thing right?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The title track from the then latest album <strong><em>‘Perfect Strangers’</em></strong> comes next and it’s for me such a wonderful piece, if perhaps a little drifting here and there, mainly<strong><em> Blackmore</em></strong> of course, but I still love it it’s one <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Rhonda</span></em></strong> and I love to jam in the basement! Fun stuff!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Under The Gun’</span></em></strong> next another newer song at the time and perhaps it’s early in the tour after the album’s release and the fans aren’t quite up to speed just yet with the new material based on the reaction during the song, until<strong><em> Blackmore</em></strong> start to abuse his guitar a bit and at the end, huge cheers!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The absolute killer <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Knocking at Your Back Door’</span></em></strong> is next and I say that because I recall it being the first ‘new’ song I heard from <em><strong>Purple </strong></em>at the time and just loved it then and still do now!</span></div>
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<br /><strong><em>Blackmore</em></strong> is out to just play every guitar solo different from each of the originals. Shame really …, even if still entertaining.<br />Must’ve frustrated the hell out of the rest of the band at the time, I’m sure.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The classic<strong><em> ‘Lazy’</em></strong> is next and yet again <strong><em>Blackmore </em></strong>performs in disjointed fashion, but that was always his way I guess, but <strong><em>Jon Lord</em></strong> gets jamming briefly and then it’s the man behind the drums to have some solo fun!<br />Take it away <strong><em>Ian Paice!</em></strong> Brilliant!<br /> </span></div>
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<br /><strong><em>Jon Lord</em></strong> leads the band into <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Child In Time’</span></em></strong> next, perhaps one of my best and first favourite <strong><em>Purple</em></strong> song I always remember so well, as <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘In Rock’</span></em></strong> was the second ever <em><strong>Purple</strong></em> album I ever bought.<strong><em> ‘Made in Japan’</em></strong> was my first <strong><em>Deep Purple</em></strong> album back around 1976, not when it first came out I know, but I was fourteen at the time and I was blown away when I heard it at a friend’s house.<br />I’ve always loved the song, but once again <em><strong>Blackmore</strong></em> takes it into space so to speak.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Blackmore’s</em></strong> <strong><em>‘Difficult To Cure’</em></strong> is led into by some fooling around for about three minutes, then the band joins him and where the track counter indicates that this track # 10 is only 0:01 minutes long it’s far from it, try closer to around five minutes, before the late great<strong><em> Jon Lord</em></strong> is left to jam his own piece, <em><strong>‘Keyboard Solo,’</strong></em> for just under five minutes and it rocks!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Time to go <strong><em>‘Space Truckin’’</em></strong> next after a little lead in between <strong><em>Jon Lord</em></strong> and <em><strong>Ian Paice</strong></em> and this seems to do just fine, with <em><strong>Ian Gillan</strong></em> screaming his lungs out!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The band leaves the stage before returning for the encores, <em><strong>‘Black Night’</strong></em> first … Oh yes, a true gem, with <strong><em>Blackmore’s</em></strong> extended jam version, although <em><strong>Jon Lord</strong></em> does get a slight look in!</span></div>
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<br />It’s time for <strong><em>Ian Gillan</em></strong> to introduce all of the band next, good stuff, before they launch into <strong><em>‘Speed King!’</em></strong></div>
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<br />A bunch of improvisation occurs here and there, including both <em><strong>Jon Lord</strong></em> and<strong><em> Ritchie Blackmore</em></strong> playing a few little familiar fun jingles before they wrap up <em><strong>‘Speed King’</strong></em> and they leave the stage again …</div>
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<br />They return then to play next the only track they could possibly close with,<em><strong> ‘Smoke on the Water.’</strong></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s a pretty enjoyable DVD, but I just wish that <em><strong>Ritchie Blackmore</strong></em> could’ve stayed a little truer to the original solos he played originally on each of the songs, but still a precious piece of video history for <em><strong>Purple</strong></em> fans everywhere.</span></div>
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<br />Not all I had hoped for but worth owning as a fan of the band.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Rating: 3.75 out of 5</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Weblinks:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><br /></strong></span><a href="https://www.deeppurple.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>https://www.deeppurple.com/</strong></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.eagle-rock.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.eagle-rock.com/</strong></span></a></div>
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-69400564198023154472013-12-06T19:41:00.000-05:002013-12-20T10:31:54.055-05:00Melodic Rock Festival #3 (Day 2) - The Home Bar, Arlington Heights, IL - Saturday 28th September, 2013<div align="center">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: lime;"><u>Melodic Rock Festival #3 (Day 2) </u></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: lime;"><u>The Home Bar, Arlington Heights, IL</u></span></strong> </span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Saturday 28th September, 2013</u></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>*Please Note - Review updated / Public Apology added Dec. 12th 2013*</u></span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmEp3Zrj_ssJ1sBbaNVHOiQEW4OVM8YZ2xjK4suJ-OW4YPKqGd72ZBknwARzSM7vXFX-o7oaoZzf2KbASdfPe0XpF6NttI2MrhGnM3sOC1mvc4j1gyOKua3sC_5DxyrTCTWrPfwYx6Ic/s1600/MelodicRockFest3_Logo_BLACK700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmEp3Zrj_ssJ1sBbaNVHOiQEW4OVM8YZ2xjK4suJ-OW4YPKqGd72ZBknwARzSM7vXFX-o7oaoZzf2KbASdfPe0XpF6NttI2MrhGnM3sOC1mvc4j1gyOKua3sC_5DxyrTCTWrPfwYx6Ic/s400/MelodicRockFest3_Logo_BLACK700.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi all and yes, I'm extremely guilty as charged for this taking so long to post AND for lack of posts on here in general.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I so wish I could do more, but ..., previous or regular readers or should that be previous regular readers as I know people have given up coming here anymore and understandably so since I've been unable to keep this site as up to date as I would like.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Anyway, this was a three day festival that I had looked forward to for so long that in the end we could only commit to ONE day, yes just one due to lack of availability of family or close friends to watch the kids while we were away. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">But ..., what a day it was!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, we would’ve loved to have attended both those Friday and Sunday show's as well, but …, it was tough enough for us to set up heading for the event leaving Detroit Saturday morning at 5am EST to drive for the 12 noon (CST) start local time and then leave Sunday morning to relieve our babysitter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trying to do the full weekend was just never going to happen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadly, <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Rhonda</span> </strong></em>ended up missing out on even the Saturday gig, since our daughter got sick on the Tuesday prior and the sitter could not afford to risk getting sick in her University year, so we brought the kids to Chicago and <strong><em>Rhonda </em></strong>like a trooper had them with her in the hotel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What was a further bummer was that the promised hotel shuttles between hotel and venue, seemed extremely limited and the first one would not be available until 2pm … No way I was waiting for that after driving the five and a half hours already for this event. So I ended up taking our vehicle leaving her (<em><strong>Rhonda</strong></em>) kind of stranded, to which I ended up feeling soooo guilty about.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sorry <strong><em>Rhonda</em></strong>, I should’ve tracked down a taxi … :(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, what is <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">Melodic Rock Fest 3</span></strong></em> you say?<br />Well, it’s the dream melodic / hard rock festival for fans everywhere, that became a reality for the first time in 2007 for <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Andrew McNiece</span></em></strong>, the owner and founder of </span><a href="http://www.melodicrock.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>www.melodicrock.com</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> a very tasty rock website, absolutely loaded with information that would take any newcomer to it, a lifetime to ever get through it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>Andrew</em></strong> also had a great deal of help putting the whole thing together here in the US from <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">Kivel Records</span></em></strong> founder and owner, <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">John Kivel</span></em></strong>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong><span style="color: orange;">Melodic Rock Fest #1</span></strong></em> took place in South Bend, Indiana in October 2007 and was a great fun day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second event took place in Elgin, IL in 2010 and was generally planned as a two day event initially but then became a three day event.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Andrew</em></strong> has been very fortunate over the years in making many friends and strong contacts in the rock world, that at each event it has always been an extremely strong melodic / hard rock line up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year has been no different, with top names from the world of rock like<em><strong><span style="color: lime;"> Eric Martin (Mr Big), Steve Augeri (Journey)</span></strong></em> and <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen, Journey</span></strong></em>) to name just three top players, across the whole weekend.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It also pulled in bands from all over the world!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As well as US acts, there were bands from Sweden (<strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Eclipse, ColdSpell</span></em></strong>), Australia (<em><strong><span style="color: lime;">The Radio Sun</span></strong></em>), England (<em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Newman</span></strong></em>) and Canada (<em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Harem Scarem</span></strong></em>) represented. To be honest, the musicians that make up <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">W.E.T.</span></em></strong> also is combination of American and Swedish talent, with <strong><em>Jeff Scott Soto</em></strong> as lead vocalist and members of both Swedish acts <em><strong>Eclipse</strong></em> and <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Work of Art.</span></em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em><strong><span style="color: orange;">The Home Bar</span></strong></em>, Arlington Heights, IL situated in a strip mall, perhaps a little tucked away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The venue for the <strong><em>MRF3</em></strong> event is <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">The Home Bar</span></em></strong>, in Arlington Heights, IL, which seems to be a great venue for live acts, holding up to 1000 people, even if it was somewhere that I couldn't find at first and GPS was not helping!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It has a bar and grill appeal, reasonable size stage for the size of venue, pretty reasonable floor space and booth type seating around inside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Some designated upper levels were assigned for VIP ticket holders only, as was the meet and a greet area that had been assigned. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The booth seats seemed to be taken right away and those that got them, were not giving them up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So as I arrived at the venue I caught up with my old mate <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Steve Newman</span></strong></em> and his band, who were sitting outside, sunning themselves on the patio. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Newman</span></strong></em> drummer <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Pete Newdeck</span></strong></em> immediately joked that they were soon going to rename the band <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Newdeck</span><span style="color: lime;">!</span></em></strong> Nice one <strong><em>Pete</em></strong>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just want to add now that for the gig, I didn't bring my SLR, why, because I considered lugging everything around inside the venue and the camera kit bag over my shoulder banging into everyone and just a pain trying to hold that, take notes, have fun etc, so I just had a regular digital camera. Sadly, in trying to avoid using flash, it didn't do so good in the low light conditions and some of the set's came across that way and with dry ice / smoke, it doesn't help. Deep pink and blue stage saturations do not seem good either and there were quite a few of those at <em><strong>The Home Bar</strong></em> ... Apologies for the not so good pic's folks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It also got harder to take better pic's as the venue filled, as people tended to push and shove a little, I really started to notice this when <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Heaven + Earth</span></strong></em> hit the stage and it was tough to get good pic's unless you were one of those people that had basically perched right at the front and you weren't trying to write notes and take pictures. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sad that people couldn't see this when I even tried saying excuse me, wouldn't move ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ah well ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadly when <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">W.E.T.</span></em></strong> were onstage the best chance I had to get pic's was side of stage and even there, I wasn't allowed close.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, once I got inside <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">The </span><span style="color: lime;">Radio Sun</span></em></strong> were just finishing their last song, which sounded really pretty good so kind of sorry to have missed their set.</span></div>
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Sadly for them, there were not too many people on the main floor to watch their set.<br />
I’ll have to check out some of their material for sure though.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Weblink:</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheRadioSun"><strong><span style="color: cyan;">https://www.facebook.com/TheRadioSun</span></strong></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Evolution Eden</span></em> (Above) onstage at The Home Bar at <em><span style="color: orange;">MRF 3</span></em>. - Photo's: <em><span style="color: lime;">Alun Williams</span></em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Evolution Eden</span></strong></em> was next up and is another band I knew nothing of previously and I'm not sure if they are a signed act or not?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They did have some really good material to me, but sadly I didn't know any of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would certainly say go check them out, as it</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">was a pretty solid set from them and again at this point in time, where there only seemed to be little over a handful more folks on the floor when they started, but towards the end of their set there seemed to be quite a few more present.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then it became clear why, as more and more people filed into the hall for the next bands set ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Band website:</strong></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.evolutioneden.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.evolutioneden.com/</strong></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next band <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">7th heaven</span></em></strong> it seems have come quite a way since I last saw them performing at the first <em><strong>MRF</strong></em> event in South Bend and that was six years back!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They also played the second<em><strong> MRF</strong></em> event as well, so within the <strong><em>MRF</em></strong> or <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">Me</span><span style="color: orange;">lodicrock.com</span></strong></em> community, they have become quite well known, add to that Arlington Heights for them is like a serious home town gig, I mean you should’ve seen these guys merchandise stand, impressive or what?! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They had brought t-shirts galore and many CD's for sale and other bit's and pieces! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">History tells that they were previously jointly managed by former <strong><em>Bon Jovi</em></strong> bassist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Alec John Such</span></em></strong> and <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Styx</span></strong></em> man <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">James JY Young</span></em></strong>, so clearly the band's potential has become common knowledge, but then they have been around since 1985! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They also pretty much were all playing their own gear with the exception of the drummer, as the drum kit did not change during the whole event, except for angle adjustments on cymbal stands, single to double kick pedals, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They have also opened for <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Bon Jovi</span></strong></em> at Soldier Field home of the <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Chicago Bears</span></strong></em> and that place holds 60,000+!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">7th heaven</span></em></strong> live at<strong><em> MRF 3</em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Top: <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Nick Cox</span></em></strong> (Guitar) and vocalist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Keith Semple</span></em></strong>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Bottom: <strong><em>Keith Semple</em></strong> with guitarist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Richie Hofherr</span></em></strong>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos: <strong><em>Alun Williams</em></strong></span></div>
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They opened their set very strongly indeed with a big sound and loads of strong harmonies too.</div>
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I think the song was <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Go for a Ride,’</span></strong></em> which sounded really catchy and was certainly put across well and for many fans of the band, there was delight at the return of Irish vocalist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Keith Semple</span></em></strong> who had left the band briefly, after recording two albums with the band previously.</div>
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He made a comment early on, clearly indicating that <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Extreme</span></em></strong> was one of his favourite bands, when he said, <strong><em>‘I can’t believe it, why would anyone interrupt and turn off an Extreme song? What’s wrong with people?!’</em></strong></div>
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Big cheer followed …</div>
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His stage presence was quite something, with his cheeky Irish one liners coming out throughout the set.</div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Dance of a Lifetime’</span></em></strong> was next, another winner with the crowd.</div>
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<strong><em>Keith</em></strong> was then provided an acoustic guitar, which before they started the next song he proceeded to play a little <em><strong>Extreme</strong></em> to tease the crowd, before then playing <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Better this Way’</span></em></strong> – I think – again sounding very good.</div>
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If I didn’t know better, I’d say I heard sampled stuff added in the mix from time to time though throughout the set …</div>
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The opening track from the band’s latest album <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Synergy’ </span></em></strong>was next,<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘We Live Life Young,’</span></strong></em> which again was very strong.</div>
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They really do have this stuff down well, but then something I didn’t know and recently learned, was that these guys have been around since the 80’s and although they have not had huge hits, they seem to still sell a reasonable amount of albums independently, merchandise too and play so frequently live, that they can actually make a living at it.</div>
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Part of how they master their live sound though, is they have their sound guy walking out in the crowd, with the sound board controls on an iPad, so they really can’t go wrong!</div>
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<strong><em>Keith</em></strong> left the stage briefly, leaving it to one of the band’s guitarist’s to take over, <em><strong>Nick Cox</strong></em> before <em><strong>Keith</strong></em>, then comes back for <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Beyond Beautiful.’</span></strong></em> Nice ballad.</div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Summers Gonna Last Forever,'</span></em></strong> next then a couple more songs and their set was done.</div>
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It was a good set and they were very warmly received, but then they had plenty of factors I’d mentioned earlier on their side, which really meant that they couldn’t fail, so there you have it!</div>
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<strong>Band website:</strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">UK band <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Newman</span></em></strong> followed an act that could’ve certainly been higher on the bill, but<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"> Steve Newman, Shaun Bessant, Paul Boyle, Pete Newdeck</span></em></strong> and <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Joel Peters</span></em></strong> were simply happy to be here to play their debut US show.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clearly setting up there were some monitor problems, which was a problem I’d heard from other artists that was going on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Steve Newman</span></em></strong>, the man behind <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Newman</span></em></strong> the band! - Photo: <strong><em>Alun Williams</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suffice to say, they opened the set with <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Killing Me’</span></strong></em> from their <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Under Southern Skies’</span></em></strong> release and I think the crowd appeared happy that <em><strong>Newman</strong></em> were finally playing here in the US, after having released nine studio albums already since 1998!</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Admittedly there were not as many people in front of the stage as <strong><em>7th heaven</em></strong> had but as the performance proceeded, I think word had spread that,<em><strong> ‘Come and check out Newman, they sound pretty good!’</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Top - <em><strong>Newman</strong></em> onstage at <strong><em>MRF3</em></strong> 2013 - Chicago!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bottom - <strong><em>Newman</em></strong> guitarist <em><strong>Shaun Bessant</strong></em> counting how many <em><strong>Newman</strong></em> fans are present ...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo's: <em><strong>Alun Williams</strong></em></span></span></div>
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</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the latest <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">AOR Heaven</span></em></strong> release <span style="color: orange;"><strong><em>‘Siren’</em></strong> </span>came <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Some Kind of Wonderful’</span></em></strong> next which without doubt raised the rock edge a little more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me it was great to see <strong><em>Steve </em></strong>and the band ‘finally’ get their chance to play in the US as I’ve known <strong><em>Steve</em></strong> for many years and know personally how dedicated this guy is to giving it – <em><strong>Newman</strong></em> – his all and to keep fans happy and it must be said, his band did him proud!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nice to hear <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Every Moment’</span></em></strong> from the <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Dance in the Fire’</span></strong></em> release, a very strong <strong><em>Newman </em></strong>track and <strong><em>Shaun Bessant</em></strong> is doing a great job on handling all of <strong><em>Steve's</em></strong> album solo work onstage!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Something that does seem clear or should that be not so clear, is <strong><em>Paul Boyle’s</em></strong> keyboards seem very up and down in the mix, but that’s certainly not the case with both <strong><em>Pete’s</em></strong> drums or <strong><em>Joel’s</em></strong> bass, which are both loud and clear!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Top - <strong><em>Newman</em></strong> taking it to crowd!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Bottom - <strong><em>Shaun Bessant, Pete Newdeck</em></strong> and a happy <strong><em>Steve Newman</em></strong>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo's: <strong><em>Alun Williams</em></strong></span></div>
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The ballad<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Stay With Me’</span></em></strong> is next which started with a little confusion, but soon got back on track and the audience really seemed to enjoy it too, especially perhaps enhanced by a really well played solo once again from <strong><em>Mr. Bessant</em></strong>.</div>
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<strong><em>Pete Newdeck’s</em></strong> drum intro got the driving <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Primitive Soul’</span></em></strong> underway, the title track of <strong><em>Steve’s</em></strong> 2007 album.</div>
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They seem to have overcome the gremlins now and seem quite comfortably enjoying themselves although sadly, after the excellent <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘If It’s Love’</span></em></strong> from his first album, the band get the message that they have to wrap up their set – Cutting out three songs – as the schedule is running late … Cruel …</div>
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There can really be only one song for these guys to close with and sure enough, probably their best known song and title track from their second album<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘One Step Closer,’</span></em></strong> does well to wrap up the set with <em><strong>Steve</strong></em> also getting the crowd into a singalong.</div>
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Good job guys, you deserve the opportunity to come back again to the States anytime soon to show everyone EXACTLY what you wanted to present.</div>
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<strong>Website:</strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.newmansound.com/"><strong><span style="color: cyan;">http://www.newmansound.com/</span></strong></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Next up was kind of a sad situation as the next set was due to be that of <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Brett Walker</span></em></strong>, who sadly passed away suddenly about a month or so before the event and right as his new album <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">'Straight Jacket Vacation'</span></strong></em> was due to be released.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The artist, good friends with organizer <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Andrew McNiece</span></em></strong> and many of the other artists on the weekend bill, had expressed ahead of the event how much he had been looking forward to it, sadly it was not to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So to pay tribute to the man, the rock community pulled together and with <strong><em>Brett’s</em></strong> wife <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Sheron’s</span></em></strong> blessing, the rest of his band and friends agreed that they would played the planned set the <strong><em>Brett Walker</em></strong> band had been rehearsing.</span></div>
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<strong><em>Brett’s</em></strong> lead guitarist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Matt MacKelvie</span></em></strong> pretty much took on the lead role in the band performing, with special guest <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jeff Paris</span></em></strong> taking the main lead vocalist role, with other special guests including a good friend of<strong><em> Brett’s</em></strong> in <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Shawn Pelata (Line of Fire)</span></em></strong> stepping up to help out too.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, I am guilty of really not know <em><strong>Brett’s</strong></em> material and now I regret it big time, as what I heard I really enjoyed and now know full well, that I would’ve been a fan of his stuff years before if only I had picked up on it sooner.</span></div>
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The set was preluded by the <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">MTV</span></em></strong> video of <strong><em>Brett</em></strong>, for <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Hard To Find An Easy Way.’</span></em></strong><br />
I think that really moved a lot of people at that time and must’ve been really tough on <strong><em>Brett’s</em></strong> wife who was present at the event and then next when the band played along with a <strong><em>Brett </em></strong>vocal track, which was kind of eerie, but cool of them to do.<br />
Must’ve been tough …<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Top - <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Matt MacKelvie</span></em></strong>, <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Brett Walker's</span></em></strong> long time friend and guitarist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Bottom - <em><strong>Brett's</strong></em> old band with special guest <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jeff Paris</span></em></strong> helping out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Photo's: <em><strong>Alun Williams</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Jeff Paris</em></strong> next adds, <strong><em>‘This next tune is one I wrote with Brett, it’s called <span style="color: orange;">‘Waiting For Love.’</span></em></strong>Sounds great, this is the song that was actually a hit for the band <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Alias</span></em></strong> ... Good stuff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Jeff </em></strong>is indeed a class act …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rest of the set is very well done, including some guest spots one of which <strong><em>Shawn Pelata</em></strong>, does very well.</span></div>
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My apologies for not knowing the names of the other guests who stepped up or songs, but it all sounded good and I’m everyone would agree, that complete respect was paid to <strong><em>Brett Walker.</em></strong> RIP<strong><em> Brett</em></strong>.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Weblink:</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/brett.walker.1042032"><strong><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://www.facebook.com/brett.walker.1042032</span></strong></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">Kivel Record's</span></em></strong> artist <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Tango Down</span></strong></em> were up next and perhaps they sounded a little rough in their opening couple of songs, but with the way the change overs are happening so fast and without sound checks, it’s tough on these bands. They were not alone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I only know of the band’s last release <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Identity Crisis,’</span></em></strong> none of their previous stuff at all so I’m a little limited on my song knowledge of the band, I’ve also had a bit of a hard time really getting into the latest album ..., but part of that could be lack of time to listen to it ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lead singer <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">David Reece</span></strong></em> (Ex-<em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Accept, Bangalore Choir</span></strong></em>) though seems to expect the audience to know all their stuff, based on how he came across to the crowd.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps he should consider that this is a multi-band festival and not just <em><strong>Tango Down’s</strong></em> day … Maybe he was just playing with the crowd ...?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Top and Bottom - <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Tango Down</span></em></strong> rocking <strong><em>MRF3.</em></strong></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo's: <strong><em>Alun Williams</em></strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I for one love the melodic / hard rock scene and still was only familiar with around half of the day’s bands’ music, but I went with an open mind to judge / assess the bands on how they came across and their attitudes to the fans.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps that the opening two tracks, I now understand were from the latest album and I didn’t recognize them tells you something … Sorry guys …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That said, many did seem to enjoy it and know the stuff, so I guess I'm in the minority.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Dream Child’</span></em></strong> next though I did recognize and enjoyed!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>David Reece</em></strong> though does seem to come across as if he wants to be <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Mick Jagger</span></em></strong> or <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Paul Stanley</span></em></strong>, it’s just a little too over the top sometimes IMHO and after all, this is just a bar - <em><strong>The Home Bar</strong></em> - in Arlington Heights, IL .. Where (?), some may say …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The overall songs sound kind of familiar but the presentation from <strong><em>Reece</em></strong> … Hmm …</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sampled keyboards on <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Blame (it On Me)’</span></em></strong> next are pretty obvious …, that said, it is a song I really like and am glad to hear it.</span></div>
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The next song I do know well, as it’s a cover of <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jace / Chasing Magic’s</span></em></strong> <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Corners of my Mind,’ </span></em></strong>written by the talented upcoming singer / songwriter <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jason</span></em></strong> <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Pawlak.</span></strong></em> </div>
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They do it well, good one guys!</div>
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I’m at a loss with the next track, sounded like<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Open Your Eyes (?),’</span></em></strong> but I’m not sure, but it did sound good, the big harmony vocals a little too good perhaps, when I only saw partial participation on backing vocals … Sampled?</div>
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More keyboard samples are obvious in the next track, again one I didn’t recognize.<br />
I understand the next two songs were <strong><em>Bangalore Choir</em></strong> tunes, another band that I’m not familiar with but the last one though I understand was <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Angel In Black.’</span></em></strong><br />
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So<strong><em> Tango Down</em></strong> in my books were OK, maybe I need to listen to them more but learning that <strong><em>David Reece</em></strong> is their third vocalist on as many albums, who knows where they go from here?</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Website:</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: cyan;"> </span><a href="http://tangodownband.com/"><span style="color: cyan;">http://tangodownband.com/</span></a></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>AdrianGale</em></strong> are another <em><strong>Kivel Records</strong></em> artist that unfortunately I've never got to know any of their stuff before, not really heard it, which doesn't help with the sing-along aspect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Top - <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jamie Rowe</span></em></strong> leads <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">AdrianGale</span></strong></em> at <em><strong>MRF3.</strong></em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bottom - <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Vic 'Hair' Rivera</span></em></strong> with<strong><em> AdrianGale</em></strong>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo's: <strong><em>Alun Williams</em></strong>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>AdrianGale</em></strong> started some years ago, releasing four studio albums between 2000 and 2004 before they split up and then reformed last year and recently released the much touted <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Suckerpunch’</span></strong></em> album through <strong><em>Kivel Records.</em></strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clearly they have some following, based on the warm reception they received and the guys came out with all guns a blazing!</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Vic Rivera</span></em></strong> I know about and is a great player on guitar, but sorry <em><strong>AdrianGale</strong></em> the rest of the band I am not familiar with at all except vocalist <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Jamie Rowe</span></strong></em> who I've heard good things about, but likewise with the material, I'm pretty much at a loss.</div>
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In fact the opening track really reminded me of <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">The Beastie Boys</span></strong></em> <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Fight For Your Right (To Party)’</span></strong></em> and to be honest I thought the harmonies seemed a little flat, but that just kind of echoed what I’d heard elsewhere about the monitoring.</div>
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As the set progressed, many of the songs sounded punchy with<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘No More Chances’</span></strong></em> that was pretty solid too!<br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Getting Closer To the Weekend(?)’</span></strong></em> I believe was next, good stuff.<br />
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They did seem to be greatly appreciated and came across as good strong players, but I just did not recognize anything and nothing was really outstanding, but was certainly good.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Facebook page - No official website available:</strong></span><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adriangale/135735596598758"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adriangale/135735596598758</strong></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong> </strong>Around this time, my feet could not possibly stand anymore, dogs were barking big time and I needed to eat!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Breakfast now seemed so long ago and lunch had been skipped ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I realized that <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Heaven + Earth</span></em></strong> would be on soon, so I hoped that the staff in the <em><strong>The Home Bar</strong></em> were quick with food.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As I waited, I could hear <strong><em>Heaven + Earth</em></strong> checking everything was working, as close to any sound check as anyone got and I did not want to miss them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I took a couple of bites of my sandwich and asked for a box to go ... I grabbed it and ran into the hall as the band were all on and getting ready to strike up and go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been waiting for some time for the chance to see next band <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Heaven + Earth</span></em></strong>.<br /><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Stuart Smith</span></em></strong> is a guitarist who I had admired for a while too, especially since he is so strongly influenced by <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Ritchie Blackmore</span></em></strong>, who <strong><em>Stuart</em></strong> has some history with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Over the past few years, I have got to know <strong><em>Stuart</em></strong> a little, through his playing with <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Steve Priest’s</span></em></strong> version of <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">The Sweet</span></em></strong> and reviewing their live gigs in Detroit in 2011 and 2012 and some friendly phone calls here and there, before<strong><em> Stuart</em></strong> quit the band to focus on the latest <strong><em>Heaven + Earth</em></strong> release<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Dig.’</span></strong></em><br />
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<br />The band now features alongside <strong><em>Stuart</em></strong>, <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Joe Retta (Sweet)</span></em></strong> as lead vocalist, <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Richie Onori</span></em></strong> <strong><em>(Sweet)</em></strong> on drums, <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Arlan Schierbaum</span></em></strong> on keys and Hammond B3 and guest bassist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Tony Morabito.</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"></span></em></strong><br />The set was scheduled originally to be an unplugged set, but then then opted late in the day to plug in and rock out, a very wise choice and one that made many of their fans at the event, extremely happy including me!<br />My only beef was that they played quite a short set, all things considered and with the exception of their theme song from the first album – <em><strong>‘Heaven + Earth.’</strong></em> – all songs were from their latest - Although a very enjoyable release … - album <strong><em>‘Dig.’</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Stuart Smith</span></em></strong> at <strong><em>MRF3,</em></strong> the man behind <strong><em>Heaven + Earth</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo: <strong><em>Alun Williams</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They opened the set as the new album does with <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Victorious’</span></em></strong> with its mystic and Arabic like intro leading into jamming Hammond and <em><strong>Stuart’s </strong></em>riffing guitar work, some solid bass and top notch drums, <strong><em>Joe Retta’s</em></strong> vocal was right on the mark too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The song with the interesting video,<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘No Money No Love’</span></em></strong> was next and it was just class!<br />The interplay between<strong><em> Stuart’s</em></strong> guitar and <em><strong>Arlan’s Hammond</strong></em> keys work, sounded so, so strong! I just love the track!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Top - <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Arlan Schierbaum</span></em></strong> having fun on B3!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bottom - <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Heaven + Earth</span></em></strong>, they rocked!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo's:<strong><em> Alun Williams</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Lonely House of Blues’</span></em></strong> next is so soulful and it’s on tracks like this that <strong><em>Joe Retta</em></strong> very much reminds me of <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Paul Rodgers</span></em></strong>. <strong><em>Stuart</em></strong> rips out a killer solo on this too, which<strong><em> Arlan</em></strong> matches well too, as he climbed all over his B3 Hammond! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heck <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jon Lord</span></em></strong> (RIP) would’ve no doubt agreed too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When they launch into <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Man and Machine’</span></em></strong> next, I was convinced we’d be hearing the whole of the<strong><em> ‘Dig’</em></strong> album!</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The band players all seemed completely on their game, having fun grinning like crazy and just rocking out!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘I Don’t Know What Love Is (Anymore)’</span></em></strong> is such a beautiful track, it has got to be the power ballad of the year if you ask me and once again, it’s on the more soulful styling’s of the band where <strong><em>Joe’s</em></strong> voice comes across so very much like <strong><em>Paul Rodgers</em></strong>, really strong.<br />The rich sound these guys are getting between <em><strong>Arlan’s </strong></em>B3 and <strong><em>Stuart's</em></strong> almost <em><strong>Blackmore </strong></em>like style is just phenomenal!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Dreams of Desire’</span></em></strong> - <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Bach's</span></strong></em> <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring'</span></em></strong> – leading into the<strong><em> ‘Heaven + Earth’</em></strong> theme tune is preceded by <strong><em>Joe Retta's</em></strong> explanation that <strong><em>‘You all know that this next song was originally sung on the first Heaven + Earth album by Joe Lynn Turner, so hopefully I can do it some justice!’</em></strong> <em><strong> </strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong>Joe</strong></em> does just fine, as do the rest of the band. Magic!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bottom - <em><strong>Heaven + Earth</strong></em>, into the light!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo's: <em><strong>Alun Williams</strong></em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Richie Onori</em></strong> gives us a brief drum solo before the band rock out with <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Good Times’</span></em></strong> from <strong><em>‘Dig,’</em></strong> before they close with <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘See That My Grave is Kept Clean,’</span></em></strong> a serious blues jam!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A great set that I hope the video footage that was taken is released sometime …, I would’ve loved to have seen a longer live set from these guys, capturing more of their back catalogue. Ah well … Enjoyed what I saw and heard!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talk of live dates in 2014 is certainly something that I hope comes off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Official band website:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.heavenandearthband.com/"><strong><span style="color: cyan;">www.heavenandearthband.com/</span></strong></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Mecca </span></em></strong>next was kind of bittersweet, as I’m sure everyone felt the same way on the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Joe Vana</span></em></strong> is and has been the main driving force behind <em><strong>Mecca,</strong></em> but also involved on the first release were former<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"> Toto</span></em></strong> bassist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">David Hungate</span></em></strong>, ex-<strong><span style="color: lime;"><em>Survivor / Pride of Lions</em> </span></strong>main contributor <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jim Peterik</span></em></strong> plus former <strong><em>Toto</em></strong> and<em><strong> <span style="color: lime;">La Roux</span></strong></em> vocalist <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Fergie Frederiksen</span></strong></em> who has sadly been battling inoperable cancer since 2010.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Mecca</em></strong> released their second album<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Undeniable’</span></em></strong> around the middle of 2011 in Europe, but not until January 2012 in North America. Suffice to say, it was a very strong release.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Joe Vana</em></strong> is still the driving force behind the project, but now he’s pulled his son <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">Joey</span></em></strong> into the project too on guitars and backing vocals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>The ‘Undeniable’</em></strong> album featured a whole host of players, that we won’t go into here, but yes, if you’re a lover of AOR / Melodic rock, think <em><strong>Toto, Journey, Survivor</strong></em> styling’s and you wouldn’t be too far off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadly, the bittersweet comment I made at the beginning of<em><strong> Mecca’s</strong></em> set reference was relating to the fact that <em><strong>Fergie Frederiksen</strong></em> had hoped to be a part of the event but his various cancer treatments and just his current health state, meant that he was not in any position to be here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong>Andrew McNiece</strong></em> when he introduced the band, explained all of this and he also asked the audience if they wouldn’t mind doing him a big favour and help him send a message to <strong><em>Fergie</em></strong> wishing him well with a big cheer and he proceeded to call <em><strong>Fergie</strong></em> and left a message and he had the audience give a huge roar and he captured the audience on video from his phone, to pass the message on. The crowd duly obliged! Great stuff! We certainly would wish <em><strong>Fergie</strong></em> all the very best.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong>Andrew</strong></em> then asked the audience to go gentle with <em><strong>Joe</strong></em>, as he wasn’t 100% from some recent surgery for cancer but he wanted to be a part of the event and he certainly did very well all things considered, even if he did have an iPad to help with lyrics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Joe Vana</span></em></strong>, the voice behind <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Mecca</span></em></strong> - Photo: <strong><em>Alun Williams</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their set opened with <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Perfect World’</span></strong></em> the very same great track that opens<em><strong> ‘Undeniable.’</strong></em> Wonderfully big sound!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘The One’</span></em></strong> next comes across in a very <strong><em>Toto</em></strong> like way indeed, especially the chord structures. Great stuff!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Joe Vana</em></strong> does seem to be struggling a little here, as <em><strong>Andrew</strong></em> had hinted at the beginning that he might be, musically the large band assembled to back up <strong><em>Joe</em></strong> and son <em><strong>Joey</strong></em>, sound great!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nice keyboard work from <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Eric Ragno</span></em></strong> throughout their set too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>‘Undeniable’</em></strong> the title track is next and as the previous two songs, it comes across as just pure class music!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jimi Jamison</span></em></strong> shone with <strong><em>Mecca's Joe Vana</em></strong> at <strong><em>MRF3</em></strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo: <strong><em>Alun Williams</em></strong></span></div>
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Then it’s special guest time, as they bring out <strong><em>Survivor’s <span style="color: lime;">Jimi Jamison</span></em></strong> for <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Burning Heart’</span></strong></em> and you should’ve seen the phones come out along with multiple cameras actually videoing it! Well sung <strong><em>Jimi!</em></strong></div>
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The fans were certainly enjoying it and <strong><em>Jimi</em></strong> was grinning from ear to ear as well and as he leaves the stage, he makes the comment,<em><strong> ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be back out later!’</strong></em></div>
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Also from the latest album,<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Did It For Love’</span></em></strong> was next before the band’s theme tune <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Mecca’</span></em></strong> itself.</div>
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Smooth tunes indeed!</div>
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<strong><em>Jimi</em></strong> returns to sing <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Too Hot To Sleep’</span></em></strong> which raised a huge cheer, as it’s a track, that album’s title track of the album that possibly most die-hard <em><strong>Survivor</strong></em> fans rate as their best, it was also the last one to feature<em><strong> Jim Peterik. </strong></em></div>
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The track rocked and the fans loved it!</div>
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Another newer song in <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Closing Time’</span></strong></em> next and although it’s a good song, I think the <strong><em>Jimi Jamison </em></strong>appearances are something that the crowd are kind of yearning for here.</div>
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<strong><em>Jamison</em></strong> comes back to sing <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘A Dream Too Far’</span></em></strong> from the<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Empires’</span></em></strong> album release which is once more welcomed with much approval, before <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘First Day of Love’</span></em></strong> from the same <strong><em>‘Empires’</em></strong> album next and then one that went out to <strong><em>Fergie </em></strong>as the band pulled off the<strong><em> Toto</em></strong> gem,<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Carmen’</span></em></strong> that <strong><em>Fergie </em></strong>sang so well. They didn’t do bad and kudo’s to <em><strong>Eric Ragno</strong></em> for his keyboard flourishes on this.</div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Without You’</span></em></strong> from the first <strong><em>Mecca</em></strong> release is next and gets some big cheers and it seems <em><strong>Mecca</strong></em> have won a lot more fan and friend tonight!</div>
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They close with <em><strong>Survivor’s <span style="color: orange;">‘I Can’t Hold Back’</span></strong></em> and with this, they pretty much take the roof off!</div>
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So many happy faces, so many people singing along and it close the set well!</div>
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Get better <strong><em>Joe, Fergie</em></strong>, all our thoughts and prayers are with you.</div>
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<strong>Facebook page, no official website available:</strong></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MeccaTheBand"><strong><span style="color: cyan;">https://www.facebook.com/MeccaTheBand</span></strong></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next it was <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">W.E.T.</span></em></strong>, combing the multi talents of guitarist / songwriter <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Robert Säll</span></em></strong> from <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Work Of Art</span></em></strong>, the multi-instrumentalist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Erik Mårtensson</span></em></strong> from <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Eclipse</span></em></strong> and the singer/songwriter <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jeff Scott Soto</span></em></strong> from <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Talisman</span></em></strong>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadly the picture above, is about the best picture you'll see here, relating to this gig review as I couldn't get anywhere close to take any reasonable photo's.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course those that know <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jeff Scott Soto’s</span></em></strong> background know that he has played with many other artists as well as <strong><em>Talisman</em></strong> too, such as<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"> Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Journey, Axel Rudi Pell, Trans-Siberian Orchestra</span></em></strong> as well as fronting<em><strong><span style="color: lime;"> Queen</span></strong></em> tribute bands.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Very talented guy, but then if you have ever listened to <em><strong>Eclipse</strong></em> or <strong><em>Work Of Art</em></strong>, you’ll realize the equal talents of both <strong><em>Robert</em></strong> and <strong><em>Erik</em></strong>!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the night, <strong><em>Jeff</em></strong> of course took lead vocals, <strong><em>Erik</em></strong> on guitar, and <em><strong>Robert </strong></em>was on keys, they were also augmented by <strong><em>Eclipse </em></strong>member <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Magnus Henriksson</span></em></strong> on guitar and guest bass player and drummer who I'm sorry, I just didn't know?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here's the thing folks for me, it was like with <em><strong>Jeff Scott Soto</strong></em> ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">He was the guy that I know would not disappoint, live he put's on a stunning show!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">What a talent!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I have huge and utmost respect for the guy and would love to interview the man who's work I have greatly admired for years and is the guy that I love to tell people, <em><strong>'You know that song in the movie <span style="color: orange;">'Rock Star,'</span> the <span style="color: orange;">'Stand Up and Shout'</span> song? Yeah, Jeff Scott Soto sung it!'</strong></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sadly some poor souls watching the movie actually believed that <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Mark Wahlberg</span></strong></em> sung it and much as I admire <em><strong>Mark Wahlberg</strong></em> as an actor, no people, he did NOT sing that song!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>'Stand Up and Shout'</em></strong> aside, what <em><strong>Jeff </strong></em>has achieved on his own merits is fantastic, but I'll let up on that and get on with the review as after all, that's all people are wanting know about!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As <strong><em>W.E.T.</em></strong> were getting ready to kick off their set, the intro tape or <strong><em>Robert Säll</em></strong> on keys started with a tubular bell type sound that led into the excellent <span style="color: orange;"><strong><em>'Never Walk Away!'</em></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I was in heaven!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">These guys, from the first notes and the full sound were just great, although <strong><em>Jeff </em></strong>did seem perhaps a little shaky ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong><span style="color: orange;">'Learn To Live Again'</span></strong></em> put simply is just another masterpiece!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sounds so good and <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">'Invincible'</span></strong></em> next, it's just killer stuff!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can these guys do any wrong!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'I'll Be There'</span></em></strong> next is yet another strong, catchy song and it's pretty loud as well, but I'm not complaining. To get to see most of these acts is such a rare deal, but <strong><em>W.E.T.</em></strong> is a very unique mini super-group project.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">W.E.T.</span></em></strong> what a band! Live at <strong><em>MRF3</em></strong>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">With <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'Love Heals,'</span></em></strong> there really aren't many power ballads that come close, certainly not this year, with the exception of the earlier mentioned<em><strong> H+E</strong></em> song, but <em><strong>Jeff's</strong></em> voice has got into a wonderful groove for the evening.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The whole band is so on their game, what talent though with <strong><em>Erik </em></strong>and <em><strong>Magnus</strong></em> from <strong><em>Eclipse</em></strong> and it's a shame that <strong><em>Robert Säll </em></strong>is simply covering keyboards, as he's quite the guitarist himself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The monster title track of the latest album, <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'Rise Up'</span></em></strong> is next in the set and the crowd does just that! Boy, is it special, as it seems is every track played tonight, I mean they are all winners!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em>Jeff Scott Soto</em></strong> and <strong><em>Magnus Henriksson</em></strong> rockin' Chicago!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>Jeff</em></strong> pulls a track from his<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"> Talisman</span></em></strong> days next in<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> 'Break Your Chains'</span></strong></em> which slots in pretty well with everything else here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">He then takes a breather to pay tribute to all the great singers and bands that are at <em><strong>Melodic Rock Fest 3</strong></em> this weekend and to <strong><em>Andrew (McNiece)</em></strong> for putting it all together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Amen brother!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Another gem from the<strong><em> 'Rise Up'</em></strong> album in the shape of <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'Bad Boy'</span></em></strong> next, just class!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then it's <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'Still Unbroken'</span></em></strong> and then <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">'Broken Wings,'</span></strong></em> before another <em><strong>Talisman</strong></em> track in<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> 'I'll Be Waiting'</span></strong></em> where he get's the crowd to sing along, as well as pulling some of the guys from other bands to try and sing the main line.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I mean I don't think he was trying to humiliate some of the other singers, where he was trying to get <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Gary Schutt</span></strong></em>, as well as <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Coldspell's </span></em></strong>lead singer and one other to try and scream (?) the main line from the song ..., but he was messing with them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I guess it was just kind of funny and fun ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><em><strong><span style="color: orange;">'If I Fall'</span></strong></em> from the first <strong><em>W.E.T.</em></strong> album next was good but not perhaps as strong as the material from <strong><em>'Rise Up,'</em></strong> but there is no faulting the band, it all sounds great still.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Dedicating <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'Brothers in Arms'</span></em></strong> to his band mates was a great touch and so true.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">They close with<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> 'One Love'</span></em></strong> and it was one great set from a project band that really impressed me and clearly impressed most if not all the audience that had really packed the place out by now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Weblinks:</strong></span><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheBandWET"><strong><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://www.facebook.com/TheBandWET</span></strong></a><br />
<a href="http://jeffscottsoto.com/"><strong><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://jeffscottsoto.com/</span></strong></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">That was it for me I was beat, I had never seen<em><strong><span style="color: lime;"> Harem Scarem</span></strong></em> live before, I had looked forward to and am so sorry to have missed them but weariness - I had sat down for ten to fifteen minutes max in the whole time at the gig since I arrived at 12 noon - and a certain amount of guilt too, made up my mind to return to my family that had patiently waited for me at the hotel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>Melodic Rock Fest 3</em></strong>, just the Saturday show was great, wish I could've seen <em><strong>Harem Scarem</strong></em> and the Sunday show too, but it wasn't to be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">At least they are back together, so next time they're around this way or at a multi-band festival like this, I'll be there!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">No matter, it was great to have been a part of it and catch up with meeting great people, old friends and new alike.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Roll on <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">Melodic Rock Fest 4</span></em></strong> ... Bring it on <em><strong>Andrew</strong></em>!!!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow; color: cyan; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.melodicrock.com/"><strong>www.MelodicRock.com</strong></a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow; color: cyan; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.melodicrockfest.com/"><strong>www.MelodicRockFest.com</strong></a></span><br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Please note - Public apology:</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>I would like to offer a sincere apology and retract some of the original statement made in my original review posting of this event that may have caused offence to <span style="color: lime;">John Kivel.</span></em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>I have redressed certain areas of my review, that were badly placed originally and had no place in a concert review.</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>It is also always my intention to be as honest as I can be in my reviews and opinions, which at the end of the day is what my reviews are, my opinions.</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>People will not always therefore agree with them, that is just how it is.</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em> I have in the past reviewed concerts by artists I really like and have admired for twenty / thirty years, who on the night have disappointed, so my reviews will tell it from my perspective on that evening, even if others see the concert differently.</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>When I am reviewing a festival event though, chances are there will be acts / artists playing that I may know little or nothing previously about. When that happens, often songs at the time may come across as not so memorable, so may not have that much of an impact, again that may just be at that specific time.</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>I do know that John Kivel is a professional record label owner, looking to promote and support the acts that he has put his time and money into, with a great deal of pride and justifiably so.</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial;"><strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">Kivel Records</span> has some very good artists indeed that deserve a lot more attention than todays marketplace will often give them, of course this can be said of many labels.</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>I honestly wish John Kivel and Kivel Records artists, nothing but success.</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>The music industry is a tough game and many unsung heroes in many acts today, deserve to be recognized so much more than they are.</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>Thank you for your time.</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial;"><strong>Alun Williams</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial;"><strong>Owner / Editor </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial;"><strong>Chambers of Rock</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Get ready folks, guess what's coming ....?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Official announcement on the full lineup of </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">MelodicRockFest 4</span></em></strong> on Thursday 12th December, 2013!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow; color: cyan; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.melodicrock.com/"><strong>www.melodicrock.com</strong></a></span><br />
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-75966460178569326302013-11-02T22:17:00.001-04:002013-11-02T22:17:31.430-04:00Status Quo – ‘Bula Quo’ album review<div align="center">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong><span style="color: lime;"><u>Released on: Eagle Records / ear music. Release date: Available now</u></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK, sorry, I know this was released a few months back now, but I didn’t get my physical review copy until mid-August and when I did get it, it was right around the time when I’d already got a bunch of other review items in, some that you’ve seen and some that …, well, LIFE has not allowed me to write up …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Status Quo</span></em></strong> in England are put simply, a way of life for so many rock fans over there, they are hugely successful there and in various parts of Europe, as their live shows become almost like family reunions! Great fun!</span></div>
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<br /><br />A<em> ‘Quo gig’</em> you’ll find is often attended by such a variety of age groups, well basically from like 8 – 80 years but it wasn’t always that way, but they have been having hit singles since the 60’s so there you go!</div>
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How do they do it?<br />They stick with the same twelve bar boogie style formula in their sound - For the most part. - much like <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">ZZ Top</span></strong></em> does here in the US, but for <em><strong>Quo</strong></em> it’s in a cleaner form.</div>
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<br /><strong><em>Quo</em></strong> also went through a few albums of almost – And I hate to say it … - mediocrity which segregated to a degree many of their hard core fans from their 70’s and early 80’s releases.<br />That said, I think in recent years they have clawed a lot of them back, with some pretty good releases.</div>
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The band has been through many line up changes too, although the two mainstays, are the band's two main front men, <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Francis Rossi</span></strong></em> and <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Rick Parfitt.</span></strong></em> </div>
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<br />Certainly this albums' two predecessors<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘In Search of the Fourth Chord’</span></em></strong> the last <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Quid Pro Quo,’</span></strong></em> were both good ‘un’s to this old <em><strong>Quo</strong></em> fan!</div>
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<br />I first saw <em><strong>Quo</strong></em> live in ’79 and then saw them live on something like ten different occasions. <br />As I said before, a <em><strong>Quo</strong></em> live gig is quite the entertaining event, such a shame that they’ve not been so warmly received over here in the US … And they have tried touring here on more than a few occasions...</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, to the album and this is effectively <em><strong>Quo’s </strong></em>.., are you ready for this? Thirtieth studio release!</span></div>
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<br />Admittedly <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Bula Quo’</span></em></strong> is essentially the soundtrack album from the band’s first ever feature film that stars the band as themselves in an entertaining situation, in a dramatic yet funny kind of action film.</div>
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<br />Perhaps the comment on the album’s cover, below its title, <em><strong>‘It started with guitars… And ended with guns!’</strong></em> gives a little pointer. </div>
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The trailer I’ve seen through<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> You Tube</span></em></strong> looks quite amusing, but I’ll wait until I’ve seen the final product before making further comment on the film.</div>
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Trailer clip here:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The album itself actually for the most part is pretty good, except for - IMHO - <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Mystery Island’</span></strong></em> and the title track itself, I don’t know ..., I mean I understand it’s purpose with the film, location / setting and the soundtrack, but it’s really not true <em><strong>Quo</strong></em> and <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Fuji Time,’</span></em></strong> I’m a little undecided on, cheesy, but that said I’ve really enjoyed the rest of the album.<br />It even comes with a second disc entitled<em> ‘Bonus Film Soundtrack.’</em>Obviously I don’t know how much a part of the films soundtrack it really is, but to be honest, who cares? It’s a bonus disc!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Opening with a very typical <em><strong>Quo </strong></em>style,<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Looking Out For Caroline’</span></em></strong> gets the band right off to a winning start. It is a strong Quo opener.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From what I understand of the movies storyline, <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Go Go Go’</span></strong></em> is very apt for the band to be running away from the villains in the story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s a great fun, edgy style song with a really nice guitar solo too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Run and Hide (The Gun Song)’</span></em></strong> has a heavy edged riff to it and then once the song kicks in it has more melody, it also features the songs writer, bassist <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">John ‘Rhino’ Edwards</span></strong></em> on lead vocals which makes a change, yet doesn’t feel out of place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Running Inside My Head’</span></strong></em> brings back the familiar <em><strong>Rossi</strong></em> led <em><strong>Quo</strong></em> style, interesting start leads to a familiar <em><strong>Quo</strong></em> driven twelve bar winner, that was written by <strong><em>Quo’s</em></strong> now former drummer <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Matt Letley</span></em></strong>, who made the decision to quit the band and make this album his last <em><strong>Quo</strong></em> contribution.<br />I really like it, great song.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The whacky laid back <em><strong>Rick Parfitt</strong></em> sung <em><strong>‘Mystery Island’</strong></em> is next and it’s got that Fujian, South Pacific style, almost Caribbean style to it and if <em><strong>Quo</strong></em> fans thought <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Living on an Island’</span></em></strong> was a little lame or even <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Margarita Time,’</span></strong></em> then this will surprise you anew!<br />Not my cup of tea at all, but I do understand it’s association with the film.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘All That Money’</span></strong></em> features <em><strong>Parfitt</strong></em> again but this time getting back to the rock and although these days he definitely sounds like he’s straining some, I like it.<br /> The riff does sound familiar though, although I can’t put my finger on what it reminds me of. No worries …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Andy Bown</span></em></strong> written song next, <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Never Leave A Friend Behind’</span></strong></em> still falls into the classic <em><strong>Quo</strong></em> sound, twelve bar with plenty of vocal melody and harmonies. Nice one chaps!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sub reggae styled <em><strong>‘Fiji Time’</strong></em> actually almost reminds me a little of <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Tears of A Clown.’</span></em></strong>It also kind brings back memories of the UK’s Two Tone Ska era, which at the time was so NOT <strong><em>Quo</em></strong> and it really doesn’t sit quite right with me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, I do understand the connection to the film ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last track here of the new studio songs is the title track <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Bula Bula Quo (Kua Ni Lega)’</span></em></strong> which although it gets into a sub twelve bar riff, it’s still a little kind of cheesy like.<br />It’s OK, prefer it to <strong><em>‘Fiji Time’</em></strong> or <em><strong>‘Mystery Island,’</strong></em> but it’s not great.</span></div>
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Interesting point here, the<em><strong> ‘Bula Quo’</strong></em> album was jointly produced by <em><strong>Francis Rossi</strong></em> and <strong><em>Rick Parfitt</em></strong>, with <em><strong>Francis</strong></em> doing six of the tracks and <em><strong>Rick</strong></em> doing three.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bonus CD features a <em><strong>‘Fiji style’</strong></em> version <em><strong>‘Living On An Island,’</strong></em> – Come on <em><strong>Rick</strong></em>, you’re really getting soft mate! - plus a couple of great tracks from the last <strong><em>Quo</em></strong> album <em><strong>‘Quid Pro Quo,’ </strong></em>in the shape of <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Frozen Hero’</span></strong></em> and <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Reality Cheque,’</span></em></strong> both excellent! <br />Next it’s a redone, extended version of <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Rockin’ All Over The World,’ </span></em></strong>given the <em><strong>‘Bula’</strong></em> treatment and sounds good!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then it’s bunch of live tracks that fans may or may not have got their mits on before …<br />Two from their <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Live at Montreux’</span></strong></em> show in the shape of <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Caroline’</span></em></strong> and <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Pictures of Matchstick Men’ </span></em></strong>and then <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Beginning of the End,’ ‘Don’t Drive My Car,’ ‘Whatever You Want’</span></em></strong> and <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Down Down’</span></strong></em> all live 2010 tracks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All in all, it's a pretty good package with the bonus stuff making up for what I didn’t really enjoy on the <em><strong>‘Bula Quo’</strong></em> disc.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I guess I really need to keep in mind that it <u>IS</u> meant to be considered a soundtrack release.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The DVD / Blu-Ray of the movie will be available in the UK this coming week, this CD set was released a few months back now. Time just slipped away from me folks, sorry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Quo</em></strong> fans will of course buy it, that’s what<em><strong> Quo</strong></em> fans do!<br />The average Joe, well, give it a go maybe for you you’ll enjoy the variety in the release, I’m looking forward to seeing the film!</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Rating:</u></strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>3.75 out of 5 – For the music.<br />4.5 out of 5 - For the package.</strong></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.statusquo.co.uk/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.statusquo.co.uk/</strong></span></a></div>
cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-52543173487589124262013-10-18T23:13:00.004-04:002013-10-18T23:13:59.559-04:00Robin Beck – ‘Underneath’ album review<br />
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<br /><span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Robin Beck – ‘Underneath’ album review</u></strong></span></div>
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<br /><strong><span style="color: lime;"><u>Released on: HMMR Records/Cargo Records Release date: Available now</u></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Robin Beck</span></strong></em> put simply is one phenomenal talent! There, I said it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in the late 80’s she came to many Europeans attention with her number one solo hit, <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘First Time’</span></strong></em> in 1988 in the UK and in 1989 in Germany, the song of course got there through its frequent use in a <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">Coca Cola</span></strong></em> TV ad at the time, which was like serious power-play for the artist!</span></div>
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<br />Sadly in the UK the success did not continue - I have no idea why?! Probably marketing or lack of it! - but Germany seemed to welcome <em><strong>Robin</strong></em> with open arms and more hits followed there for a while, but then seemed to dry up.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She has continued to release albums to critical acclaim generally although lacking in commercial success, it certainly seems that today, the melodic and hard rock community loves her. Whether the fact that she is married to one <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">James Christian</span></strong></em>, vocalist with <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">House of Lords</span></strong></em> has any bearing or not I don’t know, but her voice more than stands up for itself and needs no moral support from anyone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">That said, he did produce the album and perhaps that actually goes a long way as to why this is so good!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Most of the songwriting here has been done by <strong><em>Robin, James</em></strong> and <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Tommy Denander</span></em></strong>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The talent she has, allows her to show quite a range and variety on the material she wants to present, while easily matching the best rock vocal efforts of say <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Cher</span></em></strong> or even <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Ann Wilson</span></em></strong> in each of their primes and kind of giving the likes of pop rockers <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Kelly Clarkson</span></em></strong> and <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Pink</span></strong></em> a good run for their money!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The opener <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Wrecking Ball’</span></em></strong> gives the impression perhaps of initially a pop rocker but then rocks out like as strong as some of the best commercial rockers that <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Bon Jovi</span></em></strong> could put out there.</span></div>
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Punchy heavy edged riffs through the verses, yet such strong melodic lead and harmony vocals throughout the choruses.<br />Magic stuff, really, really strong opener, great job <strong><em>Robin!</em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Ain’t That Just Like Love’</span></em></strong> next starts with an almost <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">AC/DC</span></strong></em> like riff, but then the song grows into a monster strong commercially catchy song, the chorus is just huge, which is a common factor throughout the album. Love it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My earlier comparisons perhaps to <strong><em>Pink</em></strong> and <strong><em>Kelly Clarkson</em></strong> are perhaps strongly justified first with <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Sprain,’</span></em></strong> which is again another hugely catchy chorus driven song and something that perhaps I’ve failed to mention so far is that <strong><em>Robin</em></strong> sings with a kind of swaggering attitude. Does that make sense? I mean everything she’s singing comes across like she’s telling the listener, <strong><em>‘Look, don’t mess with me, I’m deadly serious on what I’m telling you in these songs.’</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Title song <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Underneath’</span></em></strong> really moves me and gives me goose bumps every time I hear it and it perhaps it gives a little nod to <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Heart </span></em></strong>in its structure and overall sound and that’s no slight at all, it really goes on to emphasize exactly what I’m saying about the pure strength in <strong><em>Robin’s</em></strong> performance. Absolutely fantastic!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Catfight’</span></em></strong> next … I really wasn’t sure what to make of this at first, as it’s hugely pop rock in its style, but it almost has a bit of a punky like attitude about it. Kind of funny and makes me chuckle a bit when you really pick up what the lyrics are saying. Now I just love it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The almost punky edge kicks in again with <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Check Your Attitude,’</span></em></strong> which sounds like something I bet <strong><em>Kelly Clarkson</em></strong> wishes she’d done. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A very catchy tune with quite an edginess to the song. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next up <strong><em>Robin </em></strong>does a duet with husband <em><strong>James Christian</strong></em> on<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Burnin’ Me Down,’</span></strong></em> which is kind of a borderline power ballad, laid back rocker and it’s superbly done.<br /> </span></div>
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<br /><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Perfect Storm’</span></em></strong> next gets right back to the rock and it’s loaded with some great harmony vocal lines and of course a killer lead vocal delivery from <strong><em>Robin</em></strong>. An absolutely killer lead break here too, nice one!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Possibly the catchiest song on here next, but it’s hard to say that outright as there’s so many strong songs on here, but I guarantee that <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Ya Can’t Fight Love’</span></em></strong> will have you singing it again and again, it’s truly a great up tempo hook laden rocker!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In REAL power ballad style comes <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘I Swear The Nights’</span></em></strong> next which at times also gives me goose bumps, I mean come on, I mean two big songs that give you goose bumps on one album, doesn’t that alone speak volumes?!<br />It kind of reminds me a little of <strong><em>Cher’s</em></strong> <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Just Like Jesse James’</span></em></strong> at times.<br />Very, very strong indeed, a winner in my book for sure!</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Follow You’</span></em></strong> is a great album closer as it’s just as strong as anything else on here.</span></div>
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<br />This album, no question at all is an absolute success if you ask me, I really do love every track now even if a couple took a couple of double takes, eventually they got me too.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Avoid this at your loss, <strong><em>Robin Beck</em></strong> is outstanding on here, no question, now how about some live dates in the US?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Rating: 5 out of 5</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><u>Official website:</u></strong></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.robinbeckrocks.com/"><strong><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.robinbeckrocks.com/</span></strong></a></div>
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-4415488363897595172013-10-09T12:53:00.000-04:002013-10-09T12:53:43.172-04:00James Christian – ‘Lay It All On Me’ album review<br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>James Christian – ‘Lay It All On Me’ album review</u></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: lime;"><u>Released on: Frontiers. Release date: Available now.</u></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just who is <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">James Christian</span></em></strong>, I hear some people saying?</span></div>
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Well, his voice is one I stumbled on, nay, was blown away by back in 1988 when someone introduced me to the band <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">House of Lords</span></em></strong> and their debut album.</div>
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That album and the subsequent <strong><em>HOL</em></strong> project was the brainchild of one <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Greg Guiffria</span></em></strong>, ex-<strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Angel</span></em></strong> keyboard wizard, after his own band <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Guiffria</span></em></strong> folded or was forced to fold by a certain <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Gene Simmons (Kiss)</span></em></strong>, for his new label conveniently named <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Simmons Records!’</span></em></strong></div>
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Original demos were made with<strong><em> Guiffria</em></strong> singer <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">David Glen Eisley</span></em></strong> – Later released as <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘The Demo’s.’</span> </em></strong>– but the verdict was that<strong><em> Simmons</em></strong> insisted on a new singer too. Enter one <strong><em>James Christian</em></strong> the vocalist at the time that I had certainly never been aware of, joining <strong><em>Guiffria</em></strong> bassist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Chuck Wright</span> (Guiffria, <span style="color: lime;">Quiet Riot</span>),</em></strong> much travelled drummer <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Ken Mary</span></em></strong> and guitarist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Larry Cordola</span> (Guiffria),</em></strong> all who contributed to the excellent first self titled <strong><em>HOL</em></strong> album in 1988.<br />
I also saw them open for <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">The Scorpions</span></em></strong> in 1989 and London’s Hammersmith Odeon. </div>
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Loved it!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Subsequent <strong><em>House of Lords</em></strong> albums album’s followed including the wonderful <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Sahara,’</span></em></strong> which was just killer and the magical <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Demon’s Down’</span></em></strong> release in 1992.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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Sadly all was not well and over those three releases, there were different lineups and then the band split soon after.<br />
After legal wrangles the band started again, but <strong><em>Greg Guiffria</em></strong> chose not to be a part of it and the next album did not appear until 2004. Sadly, <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘The Power and the Myth’</span></em></strong> was a disappointing return, but follow up <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘World Upside Down,’</span></em></strong> was much more in keeping with the <strong><em>HOL</em></strong> traditions.<br />
<strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Live in the UK’</span></em></strong> followed which was pretty good, then<em><strong> <span style="color: orange;">‘Come To My Kingdom’</span></strong></em> (2008), <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Cartesian Dreams’</span></em></strong> (2009) and <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Big Money’</span></em></strong> (2011) all impressed me but nothing new has since been released from <strong><em>HOL</em></strong>, but now we have this release from <strong><em>James Christian</em></strong>, who has been the one constant throughout the whole <em><strong>HOL</strong></em> saga.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Lay It All On Me’</span></em></strong> is the third solo release from <em><strong>James Christian</strong></em>, the previous two<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Rude Awakening’</span></em></strong> (1994) and <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Meet The Man’</span></em></strong> (2004) were both very good releases and to me this is a pretty enjoyable release.</span></div>
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Songwriters involved in this release include session musician <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Tommy Denander</span></em></strong> who seems to get in everywhere these days and <em><strong>Christian’s HOL’s</strong></em> band mate, guitarist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jimi Bell.</span></em></strong> <strong><em>Bell </em></strong>along with <strong><em>HOL</em></strong> drummer <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">BJ Zampa</span></strong></em> also both play on the album on different tracks too, as well as <strong><em>Christian’s</em></strong> musical wife, the very talented <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Robin Beck</span></em></strong> who helps with backing vocals.</div>
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Other players include guitarists <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jorge Salas</span></em></strong> and <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Shelby Stewart, Jeff Kent</span></strong></em> on keyboards and <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">David Sherman</span></strong></em> also contributes some drums tracks.</div>
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The album cover for <strong><em>'Lay It All On Me,'</em></strong> could perhaps give anyone who has not heard samples of the album, a steer in the wrong direction.<br />
<strong><em>James</em></strong> is seen holding an acoustic guitar and NOT dressed in his familiar black outfits.<br />
Looking quite casual, someone could be mistaken for thinking this was a folk album, it is not!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Opening with the title track, <strong><em>‘Lay It All On Me’</em></strong> the 80’s sound is right there from the get go with the keyboards bass notes leading the track in …<br />I’m almost reminded of <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘American Heartbeat,’</span></em></strong> (<strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Survivor</span></em></strong>) but since its <strong><em>James Christian</em></strong> and once it gets into it, you automatically think of <strong><em>House of Lords</em></strong>, naturally perhaps but just significantly more commercial.<br />Much as I love the song, it really sounds like <em><strong>James</strong></em> has tried to capture too many tracks / sounds and it’s mainly vocal, drums, bass, keyboards and it’s lacking in guitar until the guitar solo spots come along that almost sounds <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Steve Vai</span></em></strong> like, which kind of makes up for the lack of it overall. Nice!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Sacred Heart’</span></em></strong> comes across much more <em><strong>HOL</strong></em> like indeed, love it, but the mix / balance again seems a little awash, very keyboard driven AOR indeed, but it’s a <strong><em>James Christian</em></strong> solo album after all and not a <strong><em>HOL</em></strong> release. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still a very strong song indeed though, I really like it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next up brings <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Day In The Sun’</span></em></strong> which has a generally more modern day pop rock theme sound to it, but is a wonderfully strong track indeed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love the base line and gentle keys through the verses and then of course the big chorus with big old power chords and a nice if short guitar solo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Believe In Me’</span></em></strong> next at first kind of reminds me of <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Time After Time’</span></em></strong> – Yes, <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Cyndi Lauper</span></em></strong> – from the intro and once again, it’s got quite a pop rock feel about it, but in a good way.<br />I really like the song as I do pretty much like everything on here, although the harder rocking fans of <strong><em>House of Lords</em></strong> may be a little disappointed. <br />I think the strong songs really shine through though.</span><br />
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<br />Next up <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘You’re So Bad’</span></em></strong> kind of rocks through the verses, but the chorus is again very pop rock like.<br />In the end it’s all good melodic rock, the verses even have a slight<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"> Whitesnake</span></em></strong> like feel to them actually.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Don’t Come Near Me’</span></em></strong> is perhaps more in keeping with the <em><strong>House of Lords</strong></em> rock groove in the verses, but it also sounds quite like its predecessor, very catchy chorus, which of course is something that <strong><em>James Christian</em></strong> has never had a problem writing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The laid back poppy keyboard sound is again present on <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Let It Shine’</span></strong></em> which appears to be quite the ballad.<br />Pure pop rock slickness indeed!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘She’s All The Rage’</span></em></strong> wants to rock out so bad and generally does through the verses, but eases back a tad in the pre-chorus and chorus, where the power chords drive the verses, the keys come in to smother the guitars more in the choruses.<br />It’s still catchy as can be!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thing is, as I mentioned before <strong><em>James</em></strong> <u>is</u> holding an acoustic guitar on the cover, perhaps hinting that it’s less of a rock album, but there’s still of course so much of a <strong><em>House of Lords</em></strong> vibe about it, but with three of the band’s players, what else would you expect?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Sincerely Yours’</span></em></strong> is a mid-paced AOR type rocker and it works as well as anything else here. Still smooth!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Shot In The Dark’ </span></em></strong>the guitars drive the song with chugging edgy guitars through the verses, but <strong><em>James</em></strong> sings the song with such a more laid back approach, that it’s like slightly restrained and the chorus doesn’t up the tempo, it just keeps it steady. Again smooth, but it doesn’t really pick up in the chorus as you’d think it might.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Closing track, <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Welcome To Your Future’</span></em></strong> starts with a drum roll intro like <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Dio’s</span><span style="color: orange;"> ‘We Rock’</span></em></strong> but then the verse kicks in and brings it down some. <br />It kind of rocks and it’s perhaps a little more up tempo than the last track, but it feels like it’s not quite into top gear.<br />I still like the track, but it feels like something is missing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, I love the songs and have always loved the guy’s voice, from that standpoint he can’t go too far wrong.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Rating: 3.75 out of 5</strong></span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Official website:</strong></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.jameschristianmusic.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.jameschristianmusic.com/</strong></span></a><br />
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-31806962051673693712013-10-09T07:02:00.001-04:002013-10-11T06:03:28.808-04:00Brief Update - October 9th, 2013<div align="center">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi folks,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Well, here we go again, another quick posting just to let you know yes, <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">Chambers of Rock</span></em></strong> is still alive and kicking!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A great show Saturday before last in Chicago's Arlington Heights area at The Home Bar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Some seriously great acts and the review is coming, but even from the scribbles of the event organizer, <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Andrew McNiece</span></em></strong> it seems <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">Melodic Rock Fest 3</span></em></strong> was a success!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Check out Andrew's post for Monday 7th, October:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.melodicrock.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.melodicrock.com/</strong></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A full review of Saturday will follow but here's some highlights ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> By the way ... I did not get to see headline act <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Harem Scarem</span></em></strong> .... :(</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More on that in my full review, reports that followed though said they great ..., my loss!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For me the great performances on Saturday were - And yes I am biased but ... - <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">W.E.T.</span></strong></em> featuring <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jeff Scott Soto, Erik Martensson (Eclipse)</span></em></strong> and <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Robert Sall (Work of Art)</span></em></strong> and most of the <strong><em>Eclipse</em></strong> band were just great for me ... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Oh to have a recording or DVD of that performance, but I know ... No chance! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Great set guys!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Heaven + Earth</span></em></strong> I have been waiting to see live for so long, now I know many of you know that I'm friends with <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Stuart Smith</span></strong></em> and both <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Richie Onori</span></strong></em> and <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Joe Retta</span></em></strong> have always been so cool with me too - since meeting up with them all through Sweet performances in Detroit .. - BUT .... I had not seen <em><strong>Heaven + Earth</strong></em> live and had wanted to for so long ..., they did not disappoint!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The set was scheduled to be a short'ish acoustic set, that changed to a full blown electric rockin' performance that blew me away!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Arlan Schierbaum</span></strong></em> absolutely killed it on his Hammond B3, jamming in such a fashion <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jon Lord</span></em></strong> would've been proud of, climbing all over it too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was a short set though, but great to hear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><em><strong>Stuart</strong></em> and <em><strong>Arlan</strong></em> played so well off each other,<strong><em> Joe's</em></strong> vocal performance, excellent and <strong><em>Richie</em></strong> and <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Tony Morabito</span></em></strong> - in for <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Chuck Wright</span></strong></em> - just had the rhythm section down great!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Loved it!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><em><strong>Stuart</strong></em> - Will that footage show up on DVD?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I cannot deny <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">7th heaven's</span></em></strong> performance was impressive!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">They did have some clear advantages though ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">One - this was like a hometown gig for them ... They have also already open at Chicago's Soldier Field stadium for both <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Bon Jovi</span></strong></em> and <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Kid Rock</span></strong></em>, so this was like a walk in the park for them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Two - They had already played the previous two <strong><em>Melodic Rock Fest</em></strong> events, so were already a familiar live act to the melodic rock community.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Three - They appeared to have brought in a bunch of friends with them, who left after their performance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Four - Their sound guy was walking through the crowd mixing the sound right there on his active I-Pad ...! Er, I did hear sampled sounds and vocals too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">All that said, their performance with new singer <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Keith Semple</span></strong></em> was full of confidence, no question. Nice one guys!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A very special performance for me, was that of my old pal <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Steve Newman</span></em></strong> and his band <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Newman</span></strong></em> for their first ever performance on US soil, also this was the first live performance with the band for bassist <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Joel Peters</span></strong></em>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">They had a tough spot in the Saturday lineup too, as they had to follow <em><strong>7th heaven</strong></em>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Not a simple task, with borrowed equipment and no sound check as I know was the case for the acts coming in from overseas and some of the US bands ... The drum set certainly remained the same throughout, with some of the drummers throughout the day switching out pedals and a few bits and bobs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was apparent there were some monitor problems, but they played a great if short set of just seven songs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Huge kudos to the <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Brett Walker</span></em></strong> band guys, as <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Matt MacKelvie</span></strong></em> and the guys supported by <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Jeff Paris</span></strong></em> and <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Shawn Pelata (Line of Fire)</span></strong></em> to name just two, did an awesome job in paying tribute to the late, great <strong><em>Brett Walker</em></strong>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Incredible job guys, must've been tough ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Mecca</span></em></strong> with <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Survivor's Jimi Jamison</span></strong></em> sounded very good too, sadly <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Fergie Frederiksen</span></strong></em> <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">(Toto / Mecca)</span></em></strong> was unable to be a part of the event, as he is currently very sick and undergoing medical treatments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Nice performance led by <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Joe Vana</span></strong></em> ... Good job guys!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Adriangale </span></em></strong>were good, but nothing stood out to me ... Sorry guys, likewise <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Tango Down</span></em></strong> and <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Evolution Eden</span></strong></em>, who played good sets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I missed most of opening act <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">The Radio Sun's</span></strong></em> set, but the tail end of their performance sounded good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Reviews are coming, just done <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">James Christian</span></em></strong>, that should edited, formatted and posted in the next day or so, then <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Robin Beck, Status Quo, The Dead Daises</span></em></strong> and more!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thanks for keeping it real folks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Keep on rockin'!</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial;"><strong><em>Al</em></strong></span></div>
cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-11488069057746347312013-09-24T00:04:00.001-04:002013-09-27T01:25:41.135-04:00Brief Chambers of Rock Update - September 23rd, 2013 <br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>*Updated 26th September, 2013*</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi folks and a huge welcome to all new readers!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thought it was about time for me to at least touch base with you all again, with a few words outside of the reviews posted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Yes, very busy schedules currently in the <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Williams</span></em></strong> household, not to mention craziness in my current day job situation, with long days and a bunch of travel, more than I was told there would be, but ... It's work ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Anyway, just a brief update to you all that I am still working at album reviews and trying to get them wrapped up and posted, but it seems lately I've had even less time to listen to the music in the car on business trip, due to so many business calls enroute, ah well, they'll come folks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Trying to wrap up both <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">James Christian</span></em></strong> and his wife <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Robin Beck's</span></em></strong> solo releases currently, then hope to get <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Status Quo's</span></strong></em> latest<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> 'Bula Quo'</span></em></strong> too, there are a few others in the works too ... :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Right now though, I've been re-familiarising myself with a bunch of acts that <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Rhonda</span></em></strong> and I will be checking out this Saturday 28th September at the third <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">Melodic Rock </span><span style="color: orange;">Fest</span></strong><span style="color: orange;">!</span></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Organised by <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Andrew McNiece</span></em></strong> - <a href="http://www.melodicrock.com/"><strong><span style="color: cyan;">www.MelodicRock.com</span></strong></a> - with help from <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">John Kivel</span></strong></em> - <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">Kivel Records</span></em></strong> - it promises to be something special indeed and if you are in the Arlington, IL area this coming weekend Friday 27th, Saturday 28th or Sunday 29th September, make your way to the Home Bar - <a href="http://www.homebarchicago.com/"><strong><span style="color: cyan;">www.HomeBarChicago.com</span></strong></a> - it's going to be great and if you don't believe me, go here to check out all the details:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.melodicrockfest.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>http://www.melodicrockfest.com/</strong></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The event is going on all weekend, although we will only be able to attend the Saturday event, but there are some great other acts playing on both the Friday and Sunday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Friday's lineup includes <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Gary Schutt (Jeff Scott Soto), Glen Burtnik (Styx, Dennis DeYoung), Kelly Keeling (Michael Schenker, Heaven + Earth, Lynch Mob), Eric Martin (Mr. Big)</span></em></strong> and <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Bonrud</span></em></strong>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday's event are even more impressive with acts including <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Bombay Black, House of Lords, Ted Poley, Eclipse</span></em></strong> and <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Steve Augeri (Tall Stories, Journey).</span></strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's some of the details on Saturday's lineup for you though folks ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday's event starts with, <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">The Radio Sun</span></strong></em> kicking things off, then there's <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Evolution Eden</span></strong></em> a power trio, then <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">7th Heaven</span></strong></em> who played both the previous Melodic Rock Festivals, so previous attendees should be familiar with these guys for sure!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Some links folks:</span><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheRadioSun"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>https://www.facebook.com/TheRadioSun</strong></span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.evolutioneden.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.evolutioneden.com/</strong></span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.7thheavenband.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.7thheavenband.com/</strong></span></a><br />
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The <strong><u>only</u></strong> band playing from the UK, is <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Newman</span></em></strong> from the English south coast, my old stomping ground and they've not long released a great new album in<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> 'Siren'</span></em></strong> which just received a top notch review here on <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">Chambers of Rock!</span></em></strong><br />
<a href="http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2013/08/newman-siren-album-review.html"><span style="color: cyan;"><strong>http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2013/08/newman-siren-album-review.html</strong></span></a><br />
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<em><strong>Newman</strong></em> will of course be playing various other favourites from their vast back catalogue of nine studio releases, on their first ever US live appearance!<br />
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I spoke with <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Steve Newman</span></em></strong> last week and he was saying how much of a big deal this was to the band and how excited the band were about finally getting a chance to play to their US fans and that this gig was the first of some very important gigs for them, including <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">Firefest</span></em></strong> again next month!<br />
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I'm looking forward to this set very much!<br />
<a href="http://www.newmansound.com/"><strong><span style="color: cyan;">http://www.newmansound.com/</span></strong></a><br />
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<br />Next up will no doubt be the emotional appearance of the <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Brett Walker Tribute</span></em></strong>, featuring <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Brett Walker's</span></strong></em> band members and various guest vocalists from other weekend artists, to pay tribute to the man who passed away suddenly just over a month ago.<br /><em><strong>Brett </strong></em>was booked to play on the Saturday and with his sudden passing, the melodic rock community just wanted to pay tribute to the guy, by going ahead with his planned set.<br />
I'm sure many will raise a glass in tribute to <em><strong>Brett</strong></em> on Saturday.<br />
RIP <strong><em>Brett </em></strong>... <br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/brett.walker.1042032"><strong><span style="color: cyan;">https://www.facebook.com/brett.walker.1042032</span></strong></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/B009LE4YBC/ref=dp_image_z_0?ie=UTF8&n=77197031&s=dmusic" target="AmazonHelp"><img alt="Identity Crisis [Explicit]" border="0" height="400" id="prodImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TJ68gHAUL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<br /><strong><em>Kivel Records</em></strong> act <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Tango Down</span></em></strong> will play next and their<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> 'Identity Crisis'</span></em></strong> is an album I'm a fan of, so I know I'll enjoy this!<br />
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<a href="https://myspace.com/tangodown"><strong><span style="color: cyan;">https://myspace.com/tangodown</span></strong></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/B00FCREHXM/ref=dp_image_z_0?ie=UTF8&n=77197031&s=dmusic" target="AmazonHelp"><img alt="Suckerpunch!" border="0" height="400" id="prodImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511nGfWazQL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<br />The much touted <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Adriangale</span></em></strong> will follow, another <em><strong>Kivel Records</strong></em> band but sadly, they are an act I am not familiar with.<br />I'm sure it will be good though. :)<br />
</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adriangale/135735596598758"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adriangale/135735596598758</strong></span></a><br />
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<img alt="Dig - Album Cover" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-361" height="400" src="http://heavenandearthband.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/dig_albumcover.jpg" width="400" /><a href="http://www.heavenandearthband.com/wordpress/"></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A very special acoustic set will be next from the magical <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Heaven + Earth</span></em></strong> band, and while originally it looked like only three of the band would be playing, I learned last night that it would be a <strong><u>FULL</u></strong> <strong><em>Heaven + Earth</em></strong> band performance, still an acoustic set, but with a full band!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The main man behind the band <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Stuart Smith</span></strong></em>, will no doubt impress with his guitar work, although with an acoustic set it will be a little bit of a restrained performance for this talented player!<br />
<br /><em><strong>Stuart</strong></em> will be joined by <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">H+E</span></strong></em> vocalist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Joe Retta (Sweet),</span><span style="color: lime;"> Richie Onori</span></em></strong> <strong><em>(Sweet)</em></strong> on drums, keyboard wiz <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Arlan Schierbaum</span></em></strong> and guest bassist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Tony Morabito</span></em></strong>, as <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Chuck Wright</span></em></strong> will not be available due to a prior <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Quiet Riot</span></em></strong> commitment.<br />
I'm certain this will be great, although would've loved to have seen a full electric set!<br />
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No doubt they'll be tracks from<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> 'Dig'</span></em></strong> their latest album performed, check the review of that, captured here:<br />
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<a href="http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2013/03/heaven-earth-dig-album-review.html"><strong><span style="color: cyan;">http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2013/03/heaven-earth-dig-album-review.html</span></strong></a><br />
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Catching up with <strong><em>Stuart Smith</em></strong> last night, he told he was really looking forward to it, pumped as he headed out for one more band rehearsal.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.heavenandearthband.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.heavenandearthband.com/</strong></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><img alt="" height="400" origheight="336" origwidth="336" src="http://www.frontiers.it/m/uploads/photos/mecca_-_undeniable.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Mecca </span></em></strong>is a great project formed by<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"> Joe Vana</span></em></strong>, a very slick vocalist as well as ex-<em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Toto</span></strong></em> players bassist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">David Hungate</span></em></strong> and former <strong><em>Toto</em></strong> vocalist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Fergie Frederiksen</span></em></strong>, but they also had the talents of former <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Survivor</span></strong></em> singer / songwriter <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jim Peterik</span></em></strong> helping nail down some great stuff!<br />Sadly for <strong><em>Melodic Rock Fest # 3</em></strong>,<strong><em> Fergie</em></strong> is not well enough to perform due to his health battles. All is not lost though as <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Survivor </span></em></strong>frontman <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jimi Jamison</span></em></strong> has offered to step in and help out and there is just a chance that <strong><em>Fergie </em></strong>may at least be present at the event, even if he's not available to sing.<br />I'm sure it will still be special!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Last year's <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'Undeniable' </span></em></strong>was a very impressive album and you can check out my review of that here:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow; color: cyan; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2012/02/mecca-undeniable-album-review.html"><strong>http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2012/02/mecca-undeniable-album-review.html</strong></a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow; color: cyan; font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MeccaTheBand"><strong>https://www.facebook.com/MeccaTheBand</strong></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">W.E.T.</span></em></strong> is the combination of <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Jeff Scott Soto</span></strong></em> (Vocals), <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Eric Martensson</span></em></strong> (of <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Eclipse</span></strong></em> on guitars) and <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Robert Sall</span></em></strong> (of <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Work Of Art</span></strong></em> on guitars/keyboards) and combined they have put out two very strong albums, the latest being the excellent <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'Rise Up!'</span></em></strong> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">These guys are just a class act and <strong><em>Jeff Scott Soto</em></strong> never disappoints!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">To check out <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'Chambers of Rock's'</span></em></strong> review of <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">'Rise Up,'</span></strong></em> go here:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow; color: cyan; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2013/04/wet-rise-up-album-review.html"><strong>http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2013/04/wet-rise-up-album-review.html</strong></a></span><br />
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<a href="http://jeffscottsoto.com/WET2/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://jeffscottsoto.com/WET2/</strong></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><img alt="Harem Scarem Mood Swings II Album Cover" border="0" height="400" name="AlbumCover" src="http://heavyharmonies.com/cdcovers/H/HAREMSCAREM_MS2.JPG" width="400" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Headliners on Saturday are Canadian rockers featuring <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Harry Hess</span></strong></em> and gang, <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Harem Scarem!</span></em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just a few years back these guys had called it a day, but now they are back and have a new album out soon <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'Mood Swings 2.'</span></em></strong><br />They will be a perfect end to a packed day of class acts, oh and yes, that is just Saturday's line up!!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.haremscarem.net/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.haremscarem.net/</strong></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong>Rhonda </strong></em>and I are only bummed that we can't be there for the whole weekend and will sadly only be there on the Saturday, but what a day that plans to be for sure!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Hope to pull together as much of a review of the Saturday gig as I can folks, so look out for </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plan to post a review of the <span style="color: lime;"><strong><em>Dokken</em></strong> </span>show from August 3rd, now sadly looks beyond me, again due to the lack of time to wrap it up in my own words from my notes made that evening. Sorry ... :(</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, aside from that please stick with <em><strong>Chambers of Rock</strong></em>, there will be more to come.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheers, have a good week folks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep on rockin'!!!</span><br />
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-9554186772732306772013-09-18T19:51:00.002-04:002013-09-18T19:56:09.593-04:00Pat Travers Band – ‘Can Do’ album review<div align="center">
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Pat Travers Band – ‘Can Do’ album review</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Released on: Frontiers Records. Release date: Available now.</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Pat Travers</span></em></strong> has had my attention ever since I first heard <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights),’</span></em></strong> the then leadoff single - And probably best known song to date! - from his magic <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Live! Go For What You Know’</span></em></strong> album, recorded during his <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Heat In The Street’</span></em></strong> tour.<br />The b side to that single was his excellent live interpretation of <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Stateboro’ Blues,’</span></strong></em> - Not included on the then live vinyl album. - the <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Blind Willie McTell</span></em></strong> jam, that is best known done by the<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"> Allman Borthers</span></em></strong>, but <strong><em>Pat’s</em></strong> version just knocks that for six! - IMHO!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After getting the live album under my belt, I went out and immediately picked up his classic albums prior to the live release, starting with <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Makin’ Magic,’</span></strong></em> then<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Heat In The Street,’ ‘Pat Travers’</span></strong></em> and <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Puttin’ It Straight.’</span></em></strong>I soon realized that my interest in PT was well justified when I discovered that <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Thin Lizzy</span></strong></em> guitar players <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Brian Robertson</span></em></strong> and <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Scott Gorham</span></em></strong> both played guest spots on two of those early albums –<strong><em> ‘Makin’ Magic’</em></strong> – <strong><em>Brian Robertson</em></strong> and <em><strong>‘Puttin’ It Straight’</strong></em> –<em><strong> Scott Gorham.</strong></em> </span></div>
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Subsequent studio albums followed the live release in the shape of <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Crash and Burn’</span></strong></em> the album that included the strange choice of cover in <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Bob Marley’s</span></strong></em> <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Is This Love,’</span></strong></em> plus a bunch of synths on the album that threw some fans, but was supported by a London (UK) live show, where I caught my first<em><strong><span style="color: lime;"> PT</span></strong></em> live show and loved it!</div>
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He also played the Reading Rock Festival soon after the London gig.</div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Radio Active’</span></em></strong> followed and was OK, pretty good but it seemed to lose some of <em><strong>PT’s</strong></em> earlier rockin’ momentum to a degree, then came <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Black Pearl’</span></strong></em> which although it included another <strong><em>Marley</em></strong> cover in <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Misty Morning’</span></em></strong> it had some real gems like <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Who’ll Take The Fall,’ ‘Stand Up,’ ‘The Fifth’</span></strong></em> and more.<br />
I loved<strong><em> ‘Black Pearl’</em></strong> and being a fan of melodic rock / AOR I was longing to get a copy of follow up<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Hot Shot’</span></em></strong> but the import prices at the time were nuts and subsequently I could never find a copy of<em><strong> ‘Hot Shot’</strong></em> at a reasonable price - Still can't today! - so never did hear the album ….</div>
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I guess what I’m trying to say here is I’ve always loved <em><strong>PT’s</strong></em> music for what it was, although many rock fans don't like his voice so much, but I think it works great with what he's playing and even with some of the funky twists he took on <strong><em>‘Crash and Burn,’ ‘Radioactive’</em></strong> and kind of <em><strong>‘Black Pearl’</strong></em> I took it and it grew on me.</div>
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After that, <strong><em>PT </em></strong>really went back to more of his blues roots and I kind of lost touch with a number of subsequent releases – Let’s say at least ten of them! – until the live <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Stick With What You Know’</span></strong></em> release which was great!<br />
I did catch the <em><strong>Pat Travers Band</strong></em> live in the UK, probably two or three times in the 90's and live, it was still an enjoyable show.</div>
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Another blues release in <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Travellin’ Blues’</span></em></strong> followed, then the enjoyable last studio album that I got<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Fidelis.’</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><u>Note</u></strong> - <strong><em>'Fidelis' </em></strong>album review here: <br />
<a href="http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2010/08/pat-travers-fidelis-cd-review-released.html"><strong><span style="color: cyan;">http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2010/08/pat-travers-fidelis-cd-review-released.html</span></strong></a><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Blues on Fire’</span></em></strong> in 2012 I didn’t get, nor the <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Live at the Bamboo Room’</span></em></strong> release, but<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Can Do’</span></em></strong> is perhaps about to get <strong><em>PT</em></strong> noticed again! </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It certainly seems that with this album, <em><strong>Pat’s</strong></em> kind of targeting a shift from the more blues driven hard rock he’s best known for, to a more commercial melodic rock angle for the most part and that is fine, but the end product isn’t all it should be to me ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being on the <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">Frontiers</span></em></strong> label should’ve swung this the right way and song wise it’s good, very good IMO and I’ve seen comments on the vocals not being so good, well, <em><strong>Pat’s </strong></em>been doing this a long time now and his style leads to a rougher edge, so yes maybe they are a little rougher than previous releases but it still in the <em><strong>PT</strong></em> realm for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Opening with title track <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Can Do’</span></em></strong> it comes across as perhaps a more commercial direction for <strong><em>PT </em></strong>but as I mentioned the production feels it’s lacking a little something.<br />I actually like the song but the key the song is in seems odd with the phrasing and as an opening title track, it’s doesn’t perhaps seem as powerful as it could’ve been.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Still good and grows for sure, but takes a little getting used to, getting into.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Stand Up / Give It Up’</span></em></strong> next tries to play more so on his blues rock styling’s and his voice does sound rougher as this song goes on actually, but it’s a good groove.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Diamond Girl’</span></em></strong> is a great commercial track in a radio friendly style, great melodies on this one, nice shared melodies on the guitar from <strong><em>PT</em></strong> and the equally excellent <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Kirk McKim.</span></strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘As Long As I’m With You,’</span></em></strong> contains some nice slide guitar touches, with some great backing guitar harmonies and the solo is just class, the song is in a slower groove with an underlying dirty riff. I would add though, that the actual song line, where Pat sings, <strong><em>'As Long As I’m With Yoooou,’</em></strong> does become a little repetitive though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boy does the harmony / chorus line of<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Long Time Gone’</span></em></strong> remind me of something else …?! <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Nazareth’s</span></strong></em> <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Gone Dead Train’</span></strong></em> possibly ...?<br /> It’s a song that creeps in with a screaming, repeating guitar line then builds into the chorus to get it going.<br />The chorus though is just so catchy, whereas the verses are more dirty, stop start edgy, kind of staggered then the pre-chorus brings things back in and the chorus just kills! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The guitar solo is another killer too and these days <em><strong>PT</strong></em> is happy to share the lead work with the hugely talented <strong><em>Kirk McKim</em></strong> and they do this so well, bringing back some memories of the <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Pat Thrall</span></em></strong> days!<br />Long time drum buddy<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"> Sandy Gennaro</span></em></strong> is as good as ever and along with <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Rodney O’Quinn</span></strong></em> on bass, they’ve got things down well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Wanted (That was then / This is now)’</span></strong></em> has a haunting vibe to it, almost <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Bad Company</span></strong></em> like at times and it’s really got something, but there is one really cheesy line in it, <em><strong>‘Oh man, I sure wish I had a nice cold beer …,’</strong></em> that I’m thinking, come on <strong><em>Pat</em></strong> really, but then that’s the humourous angle that <em><strong>PT</strong></em> often likes to throw into his songs for ya!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s funky time next and more slide guitar on <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Armed and Dangerous’</span></strong></em> which is certainly another tongue in cheek funny twist song. It almost has a <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Lynyrd Skynyrd</span></strong></em> like twist about it actually, fun times <em><strong>PT</strong></em>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next song, a cover of the <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Eurythmics</span></strong></em> <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Here Comes The Rain (Again)’</span></strong></em> really threw me a curve ball … Strange kind of choice ...<br />At first I thought, no please, but it has come to grow on me. <br />This is a song that again I wish the overall production was better on, the distortion in sound here and there just isn’t good … </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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After the last song, I began to think what next and<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’</span></strong></em> is a nice instrumental that begins initially, well not unlike <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">The Police’s</span></strong></em> <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Walking on the Moon,’</span></strong></em> but then develops its own identity, although a little spacey the instrumental has some really nice lead work, some nice harmonizing kind of like a bluesy <em><strong>Thin Lizzy</strong></em>. Nice!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Dust and Bone’</span></em></strong> comes next with a real blues groove, some nice slide guitar, laid back generally, kind of cool, almost funky but still with a rockin’ groove to it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Keeping with a bluesy style, <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Waiting On The End Of Time,’</span></strong></em> but then it’s almost not unlike some of <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">David Lee Roth's</span></em></strong> fun sing-along kind of material before it then provides an absolutely ripping killer solo, then back in the fun time tune. Go guys go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Closing track<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Red Neck Boogie’</span></strong></em> is more or less self-explanatory and when you hear it you’ll know what I mean. Rock ‘n’ Roll boogie woogie, honky town grooving number.<br />Good times PT!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is an enjoyable new album from the <em><strong>Pat Travers Band</strong></em>, nice to see that classic <strong><em>PTB</em></strong> logo on the cover too, some nice songs, interesting cover version, but overall it's in a style that should please many in the <em><strong>PT</strong></em> fan club!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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The only downer for me is the overall final mix, which at times I just wish it was better, it just doesn't sound as good as it should be, but direction wise, I like it though.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Rating:</u></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><br />For songs, performance = 4 out of 5<br />Overall = 3.5 out of 5 </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong><br />Website:</strong><br />
</span><a href="http://www.pattravers.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.pattravers.com/</strong></span></a><br />
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-32590899601788169722013-09-09T00:08:00.000-04:002013-09-09T00:08:05.715-04:00Toto live at Chene Park, Detroit, Michigan <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Toto live at Chene Park, Detroit, Michigan</u></strong></span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Sunday August 25th, 2013</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seeing the band<em><strong><span style="color: lime;"> Toto</span></strong></em> live is such a rare treat, especially when you realise that the last time they played Detroit was in fact July 19th, 2007 … Yes, I remember it well as I reviewed that show for </span><a href="http://classicrock.about.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://classicrock.about.com</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> at the time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was a great night, although sadly that night the lineup was missing a major player, as <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">David Paich</span></em></strong> was missing and in fact the time I saw <strong><em>Toto </em></strong>here before that was back in 2002 and there was a massive storm here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It stormed so badly that night, that opening band <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">The Tubes</span></em></strong> pulled out of doing the show, because they didn’t figure it would go ahead …, but it did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, whatever ... The band are back in town again and this time, WITH <strong><em>David Paich</em></strong>!<br />Indeed the current lineup that has been touring features original players <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Steve Lukather</span></em></strong> and <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Steve Pocaro</span></em></strong> as well as <strong><em>David</em></strong>, also <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Joseph Williams</span></strong></em> who sung on the <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Fahrenheit’</span></strong></em> and <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘The Seventh One’</span></em></strong> albums.<br />Also long time drummer – one of my favourites –<em><strong><span style="color: lime;"> Simon Phillips</span></strong></em> who stepped into the band after <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Jeff Pocaro</span></strong></em> passed away in 1992 and <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Nathan East</span></strong></em> on bass wraps up the main band and then there are two very good backing vocalists too, <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Amy Keys</span></strong></em> and <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Mabvuto Carpenter.</span></em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The stage was set, as the band is opening for <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Michael McDonald</span></em></strong> (ex-<em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Doobie Brother</span></strong></em>) on a bunch of dates across the US, they’re playing on the edge of the Detroit river in an excellent amphitheater in Detroit’s Chene Park.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were a little nervous about heading downtown, but this was <em><strong>Toto</strong></em> after all a completely world class act who for way too many years have been so wrongfully overlooked by their home country here in the USA.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the talent they’ve always had and still have in mountains – Don’t come much bigger than mountains right?! – it was a show that I for one, was not going to miss.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They opened the set going straight for the throat with<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘On The Run’</span></em></strong> and it just sounded so, so good and it’s just great to see that <strong><em>David Paich</em></strong> is there on piano and keys, as well as <strong><em>Steve Pocaro.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Very happy to have been witness to this wonderful event first hand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Goodbye Elenore’</span></strong></em> next just never sounded better!<br />This band is just so on their game, so tight, I mean the interplay between them all is just spot on!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Toto</span></em></strong>, live in Detroit!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Top - <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Steve Lukather, Joseph Williams</span></em></strong> and <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Nathan East</span></em></strong>, brilliant!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bottom - <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Simon Phillips</span></em></strong>, drum maestro! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo's: <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Alun Williams</span></em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was beginning to think I’d died and gone to heaven when they chose to play<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Hydra’</span></em></strong> next, <em><strong>Luke’s</strong></em> guitar work just stunning, he just rips out the licks and<strong><em> Simon’s</em></strong> drumming, phenomenal!<br />The sound they produce is just so lush, so rich even in an outdoor setting, these guys got it so right. What a night!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the casual <strong><em>Toto </em></strong>fan,<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Rosanna’</span></strong></em> reached many of the crowd to get them up on their feet, it’s just so sad they are not headlining the venue on the night. Perhaps also the fact that the gig was not strongly advertised, certainly not well enough is why there was not a big, sold out crowd in attendance.<br />Perhaps also the location scared a lot of folks off coming to the show as well.<br />Had it been Pine Knob / DTE Energy Music Theatre, Freedom Hill or even Meadowbrook, I think this would’ve been a lot better attended show. Shame …</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><em><strong>Luke</strong></em> and <strong><em>Joe’s</em></strong> shared vocals on <strong><em>‘Rosanna’</em></strong> were just class, it all sounded simply immense and the band just jammed it out at the end of the song, great!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em>Toto</em></strong> live on Detroit's riverfront - Photo: <strong><em>Alun Williams</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong>Luke</strong></em> stepped up to the microphone and said to the crowd, <em><strong>‘Hey Detroit, wassup?!<br />It feels like it’s been a thousand years since we last played in town.’</strong></em>He dedicates the next song to his Mom, who he lost a few years back and shared how she always inspired him so much.<br /><em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘I Won’t Hold You Back’</span></strong></em> was pure AOR heaven, just beautiful, it gave both <strong><em>Rhonda</em></strong> and I goose bumps. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From their last studio album, they provided us the title track<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Falling In Between’</span></em></strong> next which becomes a cool epic on its own.<br /><strong><em> Simon’s</em></strong> sporadic drum fills, in sync with<strong><em> Luke’s</em></strong> guitar runs is just mint! Brilliant!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Top - <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">David Paich</span></em></strong> and <strong><em>Simon Phillips</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bottom - <strong><em>Luke</em></strong> plays out in front of <strong><em>Simon Phillips</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo's - <strong><em>Alun Williams</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Luke</em></strong> dedicates the next song to <strong><em>‘Our brother Jeff Pocaro … And our brother <span style="color: lime;">Mikey Pocaro</span> back in LA … We thank you all, for your prayers and well wishes …’<br /><span style="color: orange;">‘Wings of Time’</span></em></strong> from<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Kingdom of Desire’</span></strong></em> is a monster track, just so beautifully presented and as so much much of <em><strong>Toto’s</strong></em> work, so rich and very soulful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Luke</em></strong> introduces, <strong><em>‘Joseph Williams, the GREAT Joseph Williams, give it up for him!’</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><em><strong>Joe</strong></em> steps up to the mic and says,<em><strong> ‘I’d like you all to join me in singing this next song that I wrote with David Paich, the GREAT David Paich! It’s called <span style="color: orange;">‘Pamela!’</span></strong></em>Truly yet another strong song from the <em><strong>Toto</strong></em> jukebox and <strong><em>David Paich</em></strong> has an excellent solo piano spot in the middle that captures jazz and honky tonk moments and he’s just got the ‘it’ factor about him, no question! Magic!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Two masters of the keys,<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"> Steve Pocaro</span></em></strong> (Top) and <strong><em>David Paich</em></strong> (Bottom)!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next up <em><strong>Luke</strong></em> grabbed an acoustic guitar and again talks it up well saying, <strong><em>‘This is a song written by David Paich many moons ago and we’d just like the set the record straight on where David got his inspiration to write this and it’s actually about a new sexual position he invented, it’s called <span style="color: orange;">’99!’</span></em></strong>Funny guy <strong><em>Luke!</em></strong></span></div>
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They of course played it all so well, magic! Some excellent solo acoustic work from <em><strong>Luke</strong></em> and the band kind of eased off and then leave just <strong><em>David</em></strong> and <em><strong>Joe Williams</strong></em>, as <strong><em>David</em></strong> then starts jamming on his own and then the band all came back on stage and then wham! <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘White Sister’</span></strong></em> kicked into play and they totally rock out brilliant, everyone,<em><strong> Luke, David, Steve, Simon</strong></em> and <strong><em>Nate,</em></strong> just jammed this out with <em><strong>David</strong></em> rocking on the piano and <strong><em>Simon</em></strong> plays powerhouse style! Loved it!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then <strong><em>Luke</em></strong> said, <strong><em>‘Are you guys ready to party?’</em></strong> Cue <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Africa’</span></em></strong> and it was beautiful and once more, the sound was immense!<br /><em><strong>David</strong></em> stepped out from behind the piano and is gesturing that everyone should clap their hands as <strong><em>David </em></strong>was.<br />Another absolute winner!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em>David Paich</em></strong> - <strong><em>'You need hands ... '</em></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo - <strong><em>Alun Williams</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we realised it must be getting close to the end of the set …<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Hold The Line’</span></em></strong> just rocked the place and the set was done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was one great show, it really was and I for one really look forward to the new <strong><em>Toto</em></strong> live DVD coming out later this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Seriously, if you want to see a class act live, then look no further than <em><strong>Toto!</strong></em>They deliver the goods no question about it, thank you guys!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Rating: 5 out of 5</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Website:</strong></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.totoofficial.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.totoofficial.com/</strong></span></a><br />
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-59295172689528930162013-08-29T12:32:00.001-04:002013-08-29T12:32:14.019-04:00Night Ranger Live ‘Rockin’ the Riverfront,’ Detroit, Michigan.<br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Night Ranger </u></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Live </u></strong></span><span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>‘Rockin’ the Riverfront,’ Detroit, Michigan</u></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: lime;"><u>August 16th, 2013</u></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, this was another great summer evening for a rock show, especially on the riverfront in downtown Detroit.<br />Sure there’s the stigma attached to just being in the downtown Detroit area and stories of shootings, etc, then that the city of Detroit is bankrupt, but really being at this show it’s like that’s the last think you’d be thinking of!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This show is one of many in the area in and around Detroit that is for the most a free show … </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What people may or may not be aware of though is that to see this show for free – Or any of the other local area ‘free’ shows - means being situated outside of the sectioned off assigned VIP seated area in front of the stage that is set aside typically for up to around 200 lucky punters, to sit pretty comfortably and not in the masses surrounding the VIP area.</span></div>
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As it turned out, we did not have VIP passes when we got there, but that’s another story …<br />
Very kindly a local businesswoman saw <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Rhonda</span></strong></em> and I looking frustrated about what had transpired and asked us if we would like two VIP passes … </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks </span><a href="http://www.moonmics.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.MoonMics.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> you guys rock!</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial;"><strong>Ed side note: Drummer's - check these mic's out guys!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a Police presence at the gig location and other security on hand which then sadly later on in the show, made it clear why it’s needed when an overly inebriated fan started getting a little out of hand towards the front and required five or six of Detroit’s finest, to ‘man handle’ this guy out and down to the ground. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was a big lad, clearly intent on wanting to stay and see the show out, but that wasn’t happening. Ah well … </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve been lucky enough to cover most <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Night Ranger</span></strong></em> shows that have come through the area, not always that close to home and sometimes like this show, they have been like a forty five minute to an hour’s drive away, yet they still kind of fall as to what’s considered a Detroit gig. This one most certainly was though and right on the riverfront!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The intro track, <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">AC/DC’s</span></em></strong> <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘You Shook Me All Night Long,’</span></strong></em> cranked out at a slightly higher level than the music up until the point when the band hits the stage.<br />They opened with the excellent<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Lay It On Me’</span></em></strong> from their last album, 2011’s <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Somewhere In California’</span></em></strong> and while I love the track, there were some sound problems initially.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Sing Me Away’</span></em></strong> was next and it all started sounding better and <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Four In The Morning’</span></strong></em> too, great stuff guys!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Jack Blades</span></em></strong> of <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Night Ranger</span></em></strong> (Top) 'Rockin' Detroit's Riverfront!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Joel Hoekstra,</span> Jack Blades, <span style="color: lime;">Brad Gillis</span></strong></em> and <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Eric Levy</span></strong></em> (Bottom)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo's: <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Alun Williams</span></em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When they introduced <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Damn Yankees</span></em></strong> tune <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Coming Of Age,’</span></em></strong> from <strong><em>Jack Blades</em></strong> ‘little side project,’ the crowd sound level went up a notch, most likely due to the <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Ted Nugent</span></em></strong> connection and the band seemed to be taking it all in their stride now.<br />Anything related to <strong><em>Ted Nugent</em></strong>, is always a winner with a Detroit crowd!<br /><strong><em>Jack Blades</em></strong> is the consummate showman too, as he flirted with the crowd as well as he went walking backwards across the stage dragging the mic stand as he sang with him, just grinning from ear to ear. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong> ‘You know what? We’re having so much fun here, do you mind if we just play whatever we want tonight?’</strong></em> <em><strong>Jack Blades</strong></em> continued to toy with the crowd and received a huge roar of approval.<br />He asks the crowd, <strong><em>‘So … How many of you know that <span style="color: lime;">Brad (Gillis)</span> here used to play with <span style="color: lime;">Ozzy Osbourne</span>?’</em></strong>It seems plenty from the response, he then says, <strong><em>‘How many of you didn’t know?’</em></strong>Foolishly a few hands went up and <em><strong>Jack</strong></em> says, <em><strong>‘Well, it’s about time you did!’</strong></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />He went on to explain about how the sad turn of events in the loss of <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Randy Rhoads</span></em></strong>, led to <strong><em>Brad </em></strong>being asked by <strong><em>Ozzy </em></strong>to step in last minute to complete the pre-arranged tour dates, before then returning to the <strong><em>Night Ranger</em></strong> fold and recording <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Dawn Patrol,’</span></em></strong> their first album.<br /><strong><em>Jack</em></strong> turns to the band,<strong><em> ‘Hey, do we know any Ozzy stuff?’</em></strong><br /><strong><em>Brad</em></strong> kicks off the riff to <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Crazy Train’</span></em></strong> and the band follows suit and the crowd go nuts!<br />Fellow guitarist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Joel Hoekstra</span></em></strong> seems to take the lead vocal role here and does very well, although <strong><em>Jack</em></strong> does share some too.<br />Fun stuff …<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Top - <strong><em>Brad Gillis</em></strong> get's crazy about time spent with <em><strong>Ozzy</strong></em>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Below - <strong><em>Eric Levy</em></strong> and <strong><em>Joel Hoekstra</em></strong>, yeah it's <strong><em>Night Ranger</em></strong>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next up <strong><em>Jack </em></strong>spoke of the movies that they’ve done soundtracks for and introduced <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Secret of my Success’</span></em></strong> next which sounded as good as ever. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They really have written some fantastic songs.<br /><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Eddie’s Comin’ Out Tonight’</span></em></strong> from <em><strong>‘Dawn Patrol’</strong></em> next still sounds as strong today as ever too. I love it!<br /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Johnny Cash</span></em></strong> or <em><strong>Joel Hoekstra</strong></em>?! - Photo: <strong><em>Alun Williams</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was then time for <strong><em>Jack</em></strong> to make a little fun of<strong><em> Joel Hoekstra</em></strong>, as<strong><em> Joel</em></strong> brought an acoustic guitar out, <strong><em>‘Doesn’t he look like Johnny Cash folks? You walkin’ the line there Joel?!’</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Jack </em></strong>then adds, <strong><em>‘We’re going to play another Damn Yankees son for you, is that good?’</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘High Enough’</span></em></strong> hit the audience just as well as <strong><em>‘Comin’ Of Age’ </em></strong>did and the cheers reflected the crowd’s more than happy approval.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em>Kelly Keagy</em></strong> and <strong><em>Jack Blades</em></strong> singing <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">'Goodbye' </span></strong></em>- Photo: <strong><em>Alun Williams</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>‘Now let’s play a song that Kelly sings,’</em></strong> said <em><strong>Jack</strong></em> and <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Goodbye’</span></strong></em> was yet another winner.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘When You Close Your Eyes’</span></em></strong> rolled into <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Don’t Tell Me You Love Me’</span></strong></em> which the latter included the band taking things down a little with a few lines of <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Hotel California’</span></em></strong> before picking up the pace with a couple of lines from<strong><em> <span style="color: lime;">Deep Purple’s</span></em></strong> <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Highway Star’</span></strong></em> and then we had reached the end of the set.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em>Brad Gillis</em></strong> with <em><strong>Kelly Keagy</strong></em>, they rock! - Photo: <strong><em>Alun Williams</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I looked at my watch and they’d only played an hour …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The crowd created enough noise to bring the band back out again and <em><strong>Kelly Keagy</strong></em> introduced the band, <strong><em>‘Eric Levy on keyboards, Joel Hoekstra on guitar, Brad Gillis!!! </em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>On bass guitar and lead vocals, the Damn Yankee … Jack Blades!’</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><br /></em><br /></strong> <strong><em>Jack</em></strong> of course returned the favour with the introduction of ... <em><strong>‘Kelly Keagy!’</strong></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plenty of appreciation all round from the crowd and they continued with <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Sister Christian.’</span></em></strong> Wonderful!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Jack</em></strong> then proceeded to thank all the local Detroit rock radio stations over the years that have supported <strong><em>Night Ranger</em></strong> and they close the night with the only song they could,<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘You Can Still Rock In America!’</span></em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So no complaints from the crowd, who seemd to go home happy, I personally wished they had given us a little longer of a set as there were plenty more well known songs they could’ve given us, but they were – as always – very good indeed!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Live, <strong><em>Night Ranger</em></strong> is one tough act to beat!<br />Thank you guys for so much great music, please keep it coming! <br />
Looking forward to the new album next year, although I wish it would be here sooner!</span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Rating: 4.5 out of 5</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Website:</strong></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.nightranger.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>www.NightRanger.com</strong></span></a></div>
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-41174667003498452742013-08-24T22:41:00.000-04:002013-08-24T22:46:31.557-04:00Newman – ‘Siren’ album review<div align="center">
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Newman – ‘Siren’ album review</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong><span style="color: lime;"><u>Released on: AOR Heaven. Release date: Available now</u></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, here we have the latest and greatest release from <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Newman</span></em></strong>, <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">'Siren'</span></em></strong> is in fact the tenth studio release from the band and yes, <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Steve Newman</span></strong></em> and ‘friends’ have conjured up something magical once again!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thing I have always enjoyed about when<em><strong> Steve</strong></em> puts out a<em><strong> Newman</strong></em> album is he is always consistent and I for one have yet to be disappointed by the project.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Much as I’m sure <em><strong>Steve</strong></em> will hate me saying this,<em><strong> Newman</strong></em> has really – At least in the studio. – always been just that, a project as he’s pretty much had different people involved each time, with the exception of one mainstay on drums – I guess the one instrument <strong><em>Steve</em></strong> really does not play, although I’m sure he could! – in <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Rob McEwen</span></em></strong> for the past five studio releases.<br />He’s the guy is who <em><strong>Steve</strong></em> has always called upon to play on each album since the 2006 release<em><strong><span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: orange;">‘Heaven Knows’</span></strong></em> and I must say, he’s always done a fine job by me!<br /><strong><em>Steve</em></strong> has yet to call upon his full live band to perform on a <strong><em>Newman</em></strong> release, but I guess if you can pretty much do it all yourself, go for it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For this release though, <em><strong>Steve</strong></em> has got other input by calling upon first, from his live band <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Shaun Bessant</span></em></strong> for some guitar work on one song, also to <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Robert Sall (Work of Art / W.E.T.)</span></em></strong> to co-write another of the songs here. Two other contributors here are <em><strong>Newman’s </strong></em>new live band drummer <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Pete Newdeck (Eden’s Curse)</span></em></strong> for co-writes on two songs and to another old friend in <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Nick Workman (Vega, Kick) </span></strong></em>on another.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you’ve been a fan of previous <strong><em>Newman</em></strong> releases, then I’m certain you’ll love this, as I hear elements from various aspects of his previous releases across the board and perhaps as more of an added bonus, the focus is less on ballads / slower paced tracks and more on up tempo numbers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So to open these twelve tracks, is the storming <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Scar of Love,’</span></em></strong> which kicks things off in a similar rockin’ fashion to say the likes of <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Heaven Knows,’</span></strong></em> or<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Hero To Zero,’</span></strong></em> just rocks like a good ‘un, pummeling double kick drums, huge chorus, great riffs …, you get the picture … Nice start <em><strong>Steve</strong></em>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Had Enough’</span></em></strong> has actually become one of my absolute favourites on the album through repeated plays and you know, it almost brings to mind a little of what <strong><em>Steve</em></strong> captured on his very first <em><strong>Newman</strong></em> album, back in ‘98.<br />Maybe I’m just a nostalgia freak! LOL! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />It’s got great production value, just a really wonderful sound that stays pretty simple through the verses, but then the chorus is just so rich. Wonderful!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s perhaps because <em><strong>Steve</strong></em> has kept a lot of simplicity in the song structure, something that when you really strip down what <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Def Leppard</span></strong></em> do, you realize that the songs themselves from the band, are pretty simple and there’s a lot to be said for that, when it comes to writing hook lines / catchy choruses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I come to mention <em><strong>Def Leppard</strong></em> – And <em><strong>Steve</strong></em> will probably hate me for this, but … - next song <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Arcadia’</span></em></strong> gives a little nod perhaps, not only to perhaps <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Hysteria’</span></strong></em> but maybe <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">John Waite’s</span></em></strong> <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Missing You,’</span></strong></em> in its structure.<br />No bad thing, familiarity works great for many folks, but I am only saying ‘similar’ not rip off, as all three songs mentioned of course completely have their own identity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Another Bitch Of A Night,’</span></em></strong> is certainly a more edgy track certainly throughout the verses, but then comes the chorus and yes, great harmonies and rich sounding, then the bridge takes you somewhere else with some nice twists.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next song <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Feel Her Again’</span></em></strong> is simply classic <em><strong>Newman</strong></em> from the building intro to the slick verse and strong chorus once more. Some great changes here and there and<em><strong> Steve</strong></em> calls upon <em><strong>Work of Art’s Robert Säll</strong></em> for the<em> ‘guest’</em> guitar solo here.<br />Nicely done indeed, a solo <strong><em>Steve</em></strong> would be proud of.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Some Kind of Wondeful’</span></em></strong> starts as strong as the opener <strong><em>‘Scar …’</em></strong> It just races out of the starting blocks and has another edgy approach to it, almost punky in <em><strong>Steve’s </strong></em>vocal in places, then it almost reminds me a little of something like <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Toto </span></em></strong>in their heavier moments. Kind of clever … </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Title track <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Siren’</span></em></strong> kind of creeps up on you from its start and then the chorus hits and <strong><em>Steve</em></strong> does it again, winner!<br />There’s certainly classic <strong><em>Newman</em></strong> about this too where I’m reminded of<em><strong> ‘Heaven Knows’</strong></em> and even<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Art of Balance’</span></strong></em> <br />To a degree, but then <strong><em>Steve</em></strong> pulls out some great interplay with keys too, nice touches and …, next please!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> With <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘When It Comes To Love’</span></strong></em> <em><strong>Steve</strong></em> brings his live band guitarist <strong><em>Shaun Bessant</em></strong> to provide the lead solo here.<br />It’s one of those songs that build and just really comes into its own, from a very familiar sounding opening riff and then it eases back through the verse and then grows in the chorus and then goes back and forth from easy verses into the up tempo choruses and there’s a little edginess in the bridge, that’s followed by the rather tasty solo from <strong><em>Mr. Bessant.</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Crossfire’</span></em></strong> seems to be classic <em><strong>Newman</strong></em>, but I really think there’s a very <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Journey</span></strong></em> like vibe to this song, certainly very much so through the chorus phrasing. The underlying musical interplay through the verses and pre-choruses is also very modern day <strong><em>Journey</em></strong> like too. <br />There’s quite a bit of layering about <strong><em>‘Crossfire’</em></strong> too, really nice, there's almost a likeness to <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘One Step Closer’</span></em></strong> here and there too. Good 'un!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There’s quite a different feel / vibe altogether through the verses in <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Waiting For The Day To Come’</span></em></strong> although there are little elements not unlike <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Primitive Soul’</span></em></strong> at times as well.<br />I do like the - albeit too brief – harmony guitar part in the last third of the song, but there’s obviously a lot more to it.<br />It’s a relatively mid tempo number, with some edginess but still plenty of melody. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s all good by me …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So to the albums only true ballad, power ballad that is, made clear by the heavy piano presence. It's something that <strong><em>Steve</em></strong> has certainly mastered in his writing, not just 'the art of balance,' but the art of ballads too! Ha! Sorry, a little cheesy pun there!<br />The solo in <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘The Foolish One,’</span></strong></em> here is to die for, magic <strong><em>Steve</em></strong>, absolute gem mate!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s funny as I mentioned on <em><strong>‘Some Kind of Wonderful’</strong></em> that <strong><em>Steve</em></strong> had captured elements of <em><strong>Toto’s</strong></em> heavier moments in that song, well, there’s a heavy, kind of <em><strong>Toto</strong></em> feel about final track here<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘I Don’t Know Why,’</span></em></strong> right down to some very <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Luke</span></em></strong> - <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Steve Lukather</span></strong></em> - like guitar moments, but the keyboard touches are right there with some of <em><strong>Toto’s</strong></em> best moments.<br />It’s a great closing track it really is, very strong indeed in such a way that it sounds like an epic track yet it’s under five minutes long. Love it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I said at the start, the thing with <em><strong>Newman</strong></em> the band or <strong><em>Newman</em></strong> the man is that it’s consistent and that’s not bad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> He may bring different guest players in, but for the most part, it is <em><strong>Steve Newman</strong></em> singer / songwriter / guitarist / all-round musician and producer to boot and he has not released an average album yet, let alone a bad one!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, hat’s off to you again <em><strong>Steve</strong></em>, you really do put so much time and attention to detail into your work and just ignore the doubters, clearly based on the gigs in recent years that the band is picking up, I’m not the only one recognizing that this talent deserves praise.<br />It’s a winner by me, no doubt!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Rating: 4.75 out of 5</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Website:</u></strong></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.newmansound.com/"><span style="background-color: black; color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>www.Newmansound.com</strong></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Go here directly to hear samples of all <strong><em>Newman's</em></strong> work!</span><br />
<a href="http://www.newmansound.com/Discography.htm"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.newmansound.com/Discography.htm</strong></span></a><br />
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-55843450707519200962013-08-16T12:53:00.001-04:002013-08-16T12:53:28.001-04:00Chasing Violets – 'Jade Hearts' album review<div align="center">
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Chasing Violets – 'Jade Hearts' album review</u></strong></span></div>
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<br /><span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Released on: AOR Records Release date: Available now</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Sarah and Melissa Fontaine</span></em></strong> are main ingredient that ultimately is <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Chasing Violets</span></em></strong>.</span></div>
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<br />Indeed their melodic vocals, with their strong French phrasing, sometimes comes across as a little different perhaps for some people making their material difficult to gravitate towards. The thing is – IMHO – people should give it a chance as their last release, <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Outside Heaven,’</span></em></strong> I really enjoyed.</div>
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Review link:</div>
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<a href="http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2013/01/chasing-violets-outside-heaven-album.html"><strong><span style="color: cyan;">http://chambersofrock.blogspot.com/2013/01/chasing-violets-outside-heaven-album.html</span></strong></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That said, it seems there is another driving force behind the band in <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Frederic Slama</span></em></strong>, who for me I am not sure if it’s just a case that he writes the majority of their material – He did on the last album. – or that he somehow manages the band ...?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Maybe it's that this is released on his AOR Records label that gives him overall say / control.</span></div>
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<br />Whatever the case, he plays guitar, keyboards, sings and has produced both the first and this latest album <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">'Jade Hearts'</span></strong></em> by <strong><em>Chasing Violets.</em></strong></div>
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Sorry<strong><em> Frederic</em></strong>, but this one just doesn't come across as strong as the first one.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Opening here with <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘The Main Attraction’</span></em></strong> which is quite punchy AOR and the comments I have made before on the phrasing of words by <strong><em>Sarah and Melissa Fontaine</em></strong> is sometimes hard to accept for some people, as French is their native language, but I personally think it’s what makes it all the more different / unique.<br />One thing on this track where I was a little surprised was going into the chorus, the lead vocal seems to sound a little flat on the line, <em><strong>“Show me your love, Tell me the truth,”</strong></em> sadly to me it just doesn’t sound right. :(<br />Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the first album, but on an opening track where the listeners first assessment is focused, perhaps not so good.</span></div>
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<br />I do wonder if this album was perhaps a little rushed in its production / mixing, because having played the first album back to back with this, I feel – IMHO - the first album seems to have better overall production / mixing control.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Web Of Lies’</span></em></strong> without doubt comes across stronger to me song wise, although the guitar solo’s don’t sound clean and they almost come across rushed to me. Shame …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am at more of a disadvantage review this album than the first, as the first album I got a physical copy, with all the sleeve notes on who played what on which track. This time around I only got the MP3 download and the press release, which put simply doesn’t tell you more than all the guests that appear on the album, but not what they contribute.<br />I am also not 100% sure on here whether it’s <em><strong>Sarah</strong></em> or <strong><em>Melissa </em></strong>singing which song …<br />It does tell the reviewer that the album was written and produced – In its entirety? – by <strong><em>Frederic Slama</em></strong> …<br />That’s disappointing to me, as I liked the songs on the first album that were written by or had contributions from both <strong><em>Sarah</em></strong> and <em><strong>Melissa</strong></em>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next song, <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘A Shot In The Dark,’</span></em></strong> is clearly a duet I think with <em><strong>Frederic Slama</strong></em>, put simply I do not like the second vocal. It sounds kind of whiney and perhaps too forced … <strong><em>Frederic</em></strong>?<br />Doesn’t this track’s main chord progression also sound like a certain song on <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Bon Jovi’s</span></em></strong> first album …?!<br />The song itself is OK for me, but I really do like the guitar solo into the synth solo, that really works well. Nice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Silent Victory’</span></em></strong> comes across like it wants to be perhaps a little darker, but the overall production / mix of the album, and this is according to friends I played this to, to try and help spread the word on <strong><em>Chasing Violets</em></strong> sadly got frequent comments that each song sounds much like the one before.<br />I guess the more I think about it, the songs are very similar, wonder if this one was perhaps rushed to get out there?<br />Whatever the case, I do personally like this track.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Deception In Heaven’</span></em></strong> at the start the guitar almost reminded me of<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"> Dare</span></em></strong>, but then it got back into the groove of the album’s previous tracks.<br />This one for me seems to sadly be a bit of an average track, not really grabbing me that much and perhaps it’s because of the similarity, repetition of songs here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Title track,<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Jade Hearts’</span></em></strong> is next and I do like it, although it is as are many of the tracks here, just very similar to one another. I do hear it myself now ... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first album now I’ve played it right alongside this one, does seem to have a little more variety or should that be depth, about it. Nice!</span></div>
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<br /><em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Secrets in the Shadows’</span></strong></em> is yet again driven by the very '8o’s like synth sound at the start and the same familiar sound throughout.<br />It’s a mid-paced track, which is really the nature of the whole album, but then towards the end of the song, there’s a ripping guitar solo and then the drums pick up double time, to finish up.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Hollow Triumph’ </span></em></strong>it’s much the same tempo, on a duet with …, well, sorry I don’t know?!<br />No details in the accompanying press release of who duets on which song, really does not help at all.<br />The duet works and once again, the musicianship here is slick, I just wish the overall album had a little more variety in the songs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK, next up comes<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Exile in Sadness’</span></strong></em> which brings the pace down just a little, but it’s not quite a ballad.<br />It kind of reminds me a little of an AOR style <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Corrs</span></strong></em> track. A little more Pop / AOR, but the rhythm does seem to become a little repetitive perhaps. It’s OK.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The intro to <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘The Scarlet Nymph’</span></em></strong> sounds almost like a laid back <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Cum On Feel The Noize!’</span></em></strong>Then there’s some guitar that sounds a little like <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Paul Sabu</span></em></strong>, but again while I know he’s on the album somewhere, and since I haven't heard his playing in some time, with no details tell me who plays on which track?<br />The track doesn’t come across very strong to me and the chorus doesn’t sound strong either.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This album is really a little disappointing to me as a follow up the very enjoyable <strong><em>‘Outside Heaven.’</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Halo of Light’</span></em></strong> is another duet track and it starts with a heavy synth driven intro and there’s definitely a little more edge to this track and the chorus sounds good, but the pre-chorus does seem a little like it waivers a bit.<br />Nice guitar work!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Final track <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘I Owe It To Myself’</span></em></strong> starts with some heavy guitar power chords, then a little lead in solo too.<br />Edgy chords drive the verses and the chorus … Oh boy, does this sound like<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Jane,’</span></strong></em> the <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Jefferson Starship</span></strong></em> song in terms of the chorus guitar chords. Ah well …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> So, overall then, there is something endearing about <strong><em>Chasing Violets</em></strong> that really impressed me with <strong><em>‘Outside Heaven,’</em></strong> I think something has got lost since then, either that or this album was kind of rushed through the stages of its recording, mix and final production.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />There’s a lot of well played material here, but I don’t think the final song presentation is as good as their last album and each song doesn’t have so much individuality as the last one.<br />I hope the third album can get better balance and a better end result, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Rating: 3 out of 5</strong></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.chasingviolets.fr/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.chasingviolets.fr/</strong></span></a></div>
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-5799961541069905602013-08-08T01:07:00.000-04:002013-08-08T01:07:16.538-04:00The Sweet + April Wine Live at St. Clair Riverfest, St. Clair, Michigan<div align="center">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Sweet + April Wine</span> </u></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"><u>Live at St. Clair Riverfest, St. Clair, Michigan</u></span></strong> </span></div>
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<br /><strong><span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Saturday July 27th, 2013</u></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two bands with some great and lengthy history behind both of them, top selling albums for both acts too, although it’s been a while in the case of either act since they recorded any new album ... My understanding on <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">The Sweet</span></em></strong> front is original <em><strong>Sweet</strong></em> member, bassist / vocalist <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Steve Priest</span></em></strong> has no plans to.</span></div>
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<br /><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">April Wine’s</span></em></strong> last studio album<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Roughly Speaking’</span></em></strong> from 2006 though would certainly be the latest studio album release from either band, even though <strong><em>The Sweet</em></strong> did issue a cover of the old <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Beatles</span></em></strong> song, <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘I Saw Her Standing There,’</span></strong></em> back in 2010 through<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> iTunes</span></strong></em>. It was also added as a bonus track on the reissued <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Are You Ready?! - Sweet Live’ </span></strong></em>a couple of years ago.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live recordings and compilations continue to be released though and the live release by <strong><em>The Sweet</em></strong> was pretty good and included <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Stuart Smith</span></strong></em> on guitar at the time, before he left in 2012 to work on the latest <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Heaven + Earth</span></strong></em> album, released earlier this year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two other <strong><em>Heaven + Earth</em></strong> band members are still a part of <strong><em>Steve Priest’s Sweet</em></strong>, in drummer <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Richie Onori</span></em></strong> and singer <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Joe Retta</span></strong></em>, although Joe was absent on this particular evening’s show, due to a prior contractual commitment.<br />In his place tonight is <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Chas West</span></em></strong> (Ex-<em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Bonham, Foreigner</span></strong></em>) on vocals, while completing the rest of <strong><em>The Sweet</em></strong> lineup are <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Stevie Stewart</span></em></strong> on keyboards and <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Ricky Z (Zahariades)</span></em></strong> on guitar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>April Wine</em></strong> put out a nice double live album a few years back now in 2010, but recorded in 2003, titled <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Greatest Hits Live 2003.’</span></em></strong></span></div>
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<br />Today in <strong><em>April Wine</em></strong>, the only 'classic' <strong><em>April Wine</em></strong> guys still in the band are singer / songwriter / producer / guitarist <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Myles Goodwyn</span></strong></em> and guitarist / vocalist<strong><em><span style="color: lime;"> Brian Greenway</span></em></strong>. Today’s current lineup of the band is completed by <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Richard Lanthier</span></strong></em> (Bass / Vocals) and drummer <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Roy Nichol</span></strong></em>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">As the stage continued to be worked on making it safe for <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">The Sweet / April Wine</span></em></strong>, it was still looking touch and go ... Off with those tarps!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo's: <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Alun Williams</span></strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, to the gig and what a crappy day it had been with constant downpours and electrical storms, that the bands here although they tried, really did not get the chance to sound check.</span></div>
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<br />The stage itself is a rusty old barge, tied up to the boardwalk and in terms of stage cover to protect ‘anyone’ – crew / techs included, there was next to nothing! Cover on the top yes, covers on the sides – to prevent rain coming in… - none.</div>
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<br />Rain had been teaming down all afternoon, with thunder and lightning going on the whole time, this had certainly kept folks away from being there to check out the local bands who were trying to play.<br />The last local band <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">The Gobies</span></strong></em>, only got to play 4 songs, which weren't bad covers at all before they were told to get off the stage for safety reasons.</div>
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<strong><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"><u>The Sweet</u></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually the rain eased off for <strong><em>The Sweet</em></strong> to take the stage, they were due to start at 9pm, but the weather had pushed their start time back to 9.35pm so they had to cut out a few of their best known numbers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Action’</span></em></strong> seems to be The Sweet’s favourite opening number and it starts the show for them tonight, it still sounded good.<br /><strong><em>Chas West</em></strong> I have not seen live in years and he appears as though he could be <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Sebastian Bach’s</span></strong></em> brother, same build, similar stage dress sense, perhaps just a tad shorter hair.</span></div>
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<br />It’s<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Hellraiser’ </span></em></strong>next and it didn't sound bad at all, all things considered - no soundcheck ... - although <strong><em>Ricky Z’s <span style="color: orange;">Gibson SG</span></em></strong> sounds a little thin at times, comes across like it’s lacking punch and his style and chosen sound, is perhaps a little funky.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Love Is Like Oxygen’</span></strong></em> next comes across well, although it gives me a chuckle when the song comes to the bridge and the crowd thinks it’s over when the power chord wrapped up where the song finished on the original edited 45 release back in ’78.<br />As they wrap up the full length album version, <em><strong>Ricky </strong></em>ripped out a monster solo and now his guitar is sounding very strat like, kind of <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Ritchie Blackmore</span></em></strong> style, with a sound his predecessor <em><strong>Stuart Smith</strong></em> used to favour also.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Steve Priest</em></strong> introduced the next track as, <em><strong>‘a song about a guy that wouldn’t go home and who has a name that does not refer to me!’ </strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cue <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Little Willy,’</span></em></strong> one of the band’s early 70’s bubblegum pop rock tracks, these days given much more of a ‘rock makeover’ angle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wind starts to get up again at this point, like the storm is about to roll in again, but the rain holds off and the band were about to launch into <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Teenage Rampage’</span></em></strong> when suddenly band members communicate that,<strong><em> ‘no, we’re not doing that one.’ </em></strong> <br /><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Fox on the Run’</span></em></strong> though was next and it certainly seemed to make up for it with the crowd. It’s actually my favourite <em><strong>Sweet</strong></em> song, so it worked for me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘AC/DC’</span></em></strong> was next and the band went for some audience participation at this part with <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Stevie Stewart</span></em></strong>, sporting a Scottish kilt getting centre stage with <em><strong>Chas, Steve</strong></em> and <strong><em>Ricky</em></strong>, to get the crowd clapping along and shouting the chorus.</span></div>
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<br /><em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Ballroom Blitz’</span></strong></em> was the final song and possibly the winner of the set and it gets a few more of the seated VIP folks on their feet and the band wraps up their set with it.</div>
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<br />Clearly warmly received, but since time is limited, there’s no encore opportunity for <strong><em>Sweet,</em></strong> so next up was <em><strong>April Wine</strong></em>.</div>
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<strong><span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"><u>April Wine</u></span></strong></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So to a delayed headline set from <em><strong>April Wine</strong></em> and as the band walk across the front of the VIP area to ‘board the barge’<strong><em> Myles Goodwyn</em></strong> looked precariously at the water and walkway onto the barge and some of the movement of the barge, from the large sea freighters that pass through Lake St. Clair and cause some wakes / waves that physically rock the barge!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It had been about eight years since I last saw <em><strong>April Wine</strong></em> live, it’s been way too long, so I was looking forward to this, though I wish conditions had seriously been better. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their set like<strong><em> Sweet’s</em></strong> before was shortened and yes, they had to start late too.<br />By the time they hit the stage, I was soaked and temperatures were dropping and had dropped quite a bit already!<br />Not good …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Myles Goodwyn</span></strong></em> onstage with<strong><em> <span style="color: lime;">April Wine</span></em></strong>, St. Clair, Michigan.<strong><em> 'You looking at me?!'</em></strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo: <strong><em>Alun Williams</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They opened with <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Anything You Want, You Got It,’</span></em></strong> from their <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Power Play’</span></strong></em> album, which I personally loved so a very good start for me.<br />The band’s vocals still sound as good as you would expect from the band, who've always focused on harmonies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Say Hello’</span></em></strong> next from the <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Harder Faster’</span></em></strong> album was also well received, although when I had looked at the original set list they had, this was planned to be the fourth song of the evening for the band.<br />They continued with songs from possibly their most successful 80’s period, <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Enough is Enough’</span></strong></em> next seems to come over just fine too, with a really nice solo from <strong><em>Brian Greenway.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The band are really putting on a brave face, as the evening gets cooler still, they’re up there with the wind blowing across the stage and it’s a cool wind for sure!<br />The old<em><strong><span style="color: lime;"> King Crimson</span></strong></em> track, <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘21st Century Schizoid Man’</span></strong></em> that they made their own on <strong><em>‘Harder, Faster’</em></strong> came next and to be honest, looking around at the crowd there’s a lot of cold wet fans bracing themselves here … </span></div>
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<br />The music sounded good to me, but boy …, it’s a lot cooler than the day was before the rain came in!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Before The Dawn’</span></em></strong> next and a <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Brian Greenway</span></strong></em> vocal, as <em><strong>Myles Goodwyn’s</strong></em> voice, still sounds good these days and his solo totally rocks out!</span></div>
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<br />From the<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘First Glance’</span></strong></em> album we get <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Right Down To It’</span></strong></em> next, with what seems to be a lengthy intro, maybe I was just too darn cold! </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Richard Lanthier</span></strong></em> (Bass) keeps it solid behind <em><strong>Myles Goodwyn</strong></em>. - Photo: <strong><em>Alun Williams</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More of the folks in the seated VIP area, who for the most part stayed seated and huddled up to whoever they were with, seemed to be encouraged to get up as the opening chords to <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘I Like To Rock’</span></em></strong> were played.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Certainly got people moving around a bit, before halfway through, the band walk off leaving just the drummer and <strong><em>Myles</em></strong> says, <strong><em>‘Here’s Roy!’</em></strong>Surprised with the shortened set time, that they even include a drum solo, but the band came back out and wrapped that song up well.</span></div>
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<br />To my point next <strong><em>Myles</em></strong> says, <em><strong>‘We’re running out of time so next we’re going to do a slow song, really fast!’</strong></em><br />Cue <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Just Between You and Me …’</span></em></strong></div>
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What a great track!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It had become so cold, my hands were going blue believe it or not and I was freezing, so I made my move at this point.<br />Long cold walk to the car and a forty five minute drive home …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sorry folks, I wasn't sticking around any more on this cold and wet night.</span></div>
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<br />I heard <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Sign Of The Gypsy Queen’</span></strong></em> as I walked away …, but that was it for me!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both bands and their limited crew in each case, did very well in the circumstances, no real sound check and terrible weather.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pats on the backs guys, all round! Thanks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Wish the conditions were better nonetheless, I will certainly look to catch both acts next time around, still good to see live!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Rating: 4 out of 5 for me</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Official websites:</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow; color: cyan; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.thesweetband.com/"><strong>http://www.thesweetband.com/</strong></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.aprilwine.ca/"><span style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.aprilwine.ca/</strong></span></a></div>
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1965473384030712701.post-79544128215470514532013-08-02T06:44:00.002-04:002013-08-02T06:44:48.081-04:00Steve Miller Band Live review at Freedom Hill Amphitheatre - 20th July, 2013<br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Steve Miller Band live at Freedom Hill Amphitheatre, Sterling Heights, Michigan.</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong><span style="color: lime;"><u>Saturday 20th July, 2013</u></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what did you do on your Saturday night? Well, a couple of weeks back, I went to check out <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Steve Miller</span></em></strong> and his band!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Last time I saw him was probably about five or so years back now, so when a good friend asked <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Rhonda</span></em></strong> and I if we’d like to go with them, who was I to say no, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a great night for a show, conditions a little cloudy but all in all, not bad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We missed the opening act, but I understand it was a female folk singer, but I didn’t catch her name …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Steve Miller’s</em></strong> stage set was not too elaborate, it was kind of what looked like a ships mast at an angle with some lights on but then it’s <em><strong>Steve Miller</strong></em> and he’s really all about the music.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Steve Miller Band</span></em></strong> onstage in Sterling Heights, MI - Photo: <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Gary Shaw</span></em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />The band opened with <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Jungle Love,’</span></strong></em> a familiar tune that gets everyone out of the bar areas pretty quick, we’d already taken our seats though, quite a ways back, a little to right of centre as you look at the stage but too not bad and the sound was pretty good too. The only down side for me was this young lad around aged about eighteen to twenty and his buddies, who appeared to have perhaps had a little too much ‘sugar’ – ahem! – or something and he and the guy directly next to him just kept on talking for most of the show, loud enough so that they made sure they could hear themselves over the band, nice … Not!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The seats were probably as full as it was going to get, about half to two thirds full by the time<em><strong><span style="color: orange;"> ‘Take The Money and Run’</span></strong></em> started next. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two good opening songs to have got the evening going!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em>Steve </em></strong>and the boys jamming! - Photo: <strong><em>Gary Shaw</em></strong></span><div align="center">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘The Stake (Nobody Loves You Like The Way I Do)’</span></em></strong> was next and it jams not unlike say <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Rocky Mountain Way’</span></strong></em> in places if you ask me, but overall it’s a good number to those who aren't familiar with it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The good songs just keep coming with another hit after hit when <em><strong>Steve</strong></em> first talks to the crowd saying,<em><strong> ‘How are you doing guys? Here’s a little magic for you,’</strong></em> which then introduced <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Abracadabra,’</span></strong></em> and crowd just lapped this all up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Steve</em></strong> then introduced the guy who then proceeds to share most of the lead vocals for the evening <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Sonny Charles</span></strong></em>. <br />What a great voice too, he totally did the songs justice. Then <em><strong>Steve</strong></em> says, <em><strong>‘We’re going to do some songs from <span style="color: orange;">‘Bingo’</span> now. This is a <span style="color: lime;">Bobby Blue Bland</span> song<span style="color: orange;"> ‘Somewhere Further Up The Road,’</span> that we’d like to play for you.’</strong></em></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />It was a real blues jam, that the band got some audience participation going with and <em><strong>Sonny </strong></em>say, <strong><em>‘We’ve got some singers here Steve, are you guys ready to sing?’</em></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big cheers follow … <br />That would be a yes methinks!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next track I understand was <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Ooh Poo Pah Doo,’</span></strong></em> then it’s onto an <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Otis Rush</span></em></strong> tune,<strong><em><span style="color: orange;"> ‘All Your Loving,’</span></em></strong> which is a very laid back number generally, kind of reminded me a lot of <strong><em><span style="color: lime;">Santana’s</span></em></strong> <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Black Magic Woman,’</span></strong></em> although then I heard someone else say, <em><strong>‘This sounds like <span style="color: orange;">Hawaii Five-O</span>!’</strong></em> I didn’t think so, but there you go!<br /><strong><em>Steve’s </em></strong>guitar work on this was very <strong><em>Santana</em></strong> like if you ask me, nicely done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>‘Are there any jokers out there?’</em></strong> asks <em><strong>Steve</strong></em>,<strong><em> "This is from The Joker album, in fact it was our opening track, a song called <span style="color: orange;">‘Sugar Babe,’</span></em> "</strong> which sounded great to me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em>Steve Miller </em></strong>is no spring chicken, but he's sounding good! - Photo:<strong><em> Gary Shaw</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>‘This next song we’d like to play, is about a girl from Detroit. It’s called <span style="color: orange;">‘Mary Lou.’’</span></em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I looked around the venue at this point, there still seems to be quite a few empty seats, mostly on the left side of the pavilion.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>“I’d like to dedicate this next song, it's called <span style="color: orange;">‘Shu Ba Da Du, Ma Ma Ma Ma,’</span> to my old friend <span style="color: lime;">Carlos Santana</span>. We used to hang out a lot back in the early 70’s … It’s another track from our <span style="color: orange;">Joker</span> album.”</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has a nice bass run in it and once more <em><strong>Steve’s</strong></em> guitar work is great and I can totally understand why he dedicates the song to <em><strong>Carlos</strong></em>! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The crew bring out a bar stool for <strong><em>Steve</em></strong>, as well as an acoustic guitar. He says,<em><strong> “From The Joker …, this is <span style="color: orange;">‘Going To the Country.’</span>” </strong></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He also played a little harmonica in it, so you get the idea it’s pretty much an acoustic blues like jam.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mellow tune time from <strong><em>Steve Miller</em></strong> - Photo: <strong><em>Gary Shaw</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To introduce the next song, <em><strong>Steve</strong></em> says, <em><strong>“This is the last song we’re going to play from The Joker album, and it’s actually the albums last track!</strong></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong>I’d like to bring out an old friend from Nashville next to play some real pedal steel guitar, because as talented as my band is here, there’s no one that can really play it right, but this guy can!”</strong></em> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The song we get is <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Something To Believe In.’</span></strong></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadly I did not get the guy’s name …. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Some great pedal steel guitar from <strong><em>Steve's</em></strong> friend from Nashville! - Photo: <strong><em>Gary Shaw</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It really seemed by this point, that the show had really got pretty melancholy, as the applause tended to be just a little too polite and while there are some screams and cheers, it had mellowed down significantly!<br />Just the same, he asks his Nashville buddy if he wants to play another … </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why not I guess …?!<br /><em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Dance, Dance, Dance,’</span></strong></em> is another tune that came across as a very country style tune.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back to the better known tracks for the crowd, with <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Fly Like An Eagle’</span></strong></em> next which of course garnered huge applause when it started.<br />The keys guy – Sorry, <em><strong>Steve's</strong></em> band introductions did not come across too clearly … - really jammed some killer, monster Hammond like riffs on this and then <em><strong>Steve</strong></em> himself played out some great licks once more!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Interesting stage set! - Photo: <strong><em>Gary Shaw</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next tune, <strong><em><span style="color: orange;">‘Serenade’</span></em></strong> was perhaps not so well known next, but then <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Jet Airliner’</span></strong></em> got everyone back into it big time!<br />My favourite <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Steve Miller Band</span></strong></em> track <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Rock ‘n’ Me’</span></strong></em> closed the main set and then the band left the stage, but not for long. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back they come to close out the evening with encores in the shape of <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘Swingtown,’ ‘Space Cowboy’</span></strong></em> and final song of the night <em><strong><span style="color: orange;">‘The Joker.’</span></strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was a pretty fun night. The photo’s I took, just really weren’t good enough as we were so far back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So, my thanks to <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">LeeAnn</span></strong></em> for the invite</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thankfully <em><strong><span style="color: lime;">Gary Shaw</span></strong></em> provided me with all the attached photo’s, thanks <em><strong>Gary</strong></em>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rating: 3.5 out of 5 for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Website:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><br /></strong></span><a href="http://www.stevemillerband.com/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>http://www.stevemillerband.com/</strong></span></a></div>
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cozyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826213219148213306noreply@blogger.com0